Britain, France, Germany Ready to Reimpose UN Sanctions on Iran if Nuclear Talks Fail
Britain, France, and Germany have informed the United Nations that they are prepared to reimpose UN-mandated sanctions on Iran over its nuclear program if no diplomatic agreement is reached by the end of August 2025, according to a joint letter obtained by AFP.
The letter, addressed to UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and the UN Security Council, states that the three European powers remain committed to using all diplomatic tools to prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons. They warned that they may trigger the “snapback mechanism” from the 2015 nuclear deal if Tehran fails to meet the deadline.
The mechanism allows participating countries to restore UN sanctions if Iran violates the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), which aimed to limit its uranium enrichment. According to the European ministers, Iran has already breached commitments, including stockpiling uranium more than 40 times the agreed limit.
The statement follows increased tensions in the region, including Israeli strikes on Iranian facilities in June and a US bombing raid, which disrupted diplomatic contacts. Iran has denied seeking nuclear weapons and claims the European powers lack the legal right to reinstate sanctions, a claim the E3 ministers rejected as “unfounded.”
The European countries emphasized their continued commitment to a diplomatic solution, while making clear that the snapback option remains on the table if no agreement is reached by the end of August.
