The United Kingdom, France and Germany are moving to re-impose UN sanctions

The United Kingdom, France and Germany began the process of restoring the United Nations major sanctions against Iran – raised within the framework of a 2015 agreement – while tensions are increasing once again on Iran’s nuclear program.

This decision will trigger a so-called Snapback mechanism, which could lead to the return of sanctions in 30 days.

The three countries, participants in the 2015 agreement, warned two weeks ago that they were ready to do so unless Iran accepts a “diplomatic solution” at the end of August.

Translections between Iran and the United States on its nuclear program have not resumed since June, when the United States has bombed Iranian nuclear sites and Iran has prevented UN inspectors from access to its facilities.

The Snapback provision was integrated into the 2015 agreement and allows a participant to launch the process to bring the sanctions back if they believe that Iran has failed to respect its nuclear commitments by advancing the United Nations Security Council.

The United Kingdom, France and Germany, known as the E3, took precedence in a letter to the Security Council. The Council now has 30 days to decide to extend the reduction in sanctions or allow it to travel.

Iran had warned against the repercussions if the snapback was triggered.

Paralying economic sanctions for several years have been lifted in exchange for borders to the Iran nuclear program as part of the agreement not supported by Iran and the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, China and the EU.

But the agreement collapsed after Donald Trump withdrew the United States and repaired nuclear-related sanctions in 2018 during his first mandate. Iran has intensified its nuclear activities in response, feeding a renewed crisis.

Western powers and the global nuclear organization The International Atomic Energy Agency (AIEA) say that they are not convinced that the Iranian nuclear program has purely peaceful ends. Iran insists firmly on the fact that he does not seek nuclear weapons and that his nuclear program is only civil.