Iran and the E3 countries—France, the United Kingdom, and Germany—are set to resume nuclear negotiations ahead of a looming deadline that could trigger snapback sanctions under the 2015 nuclear deal.
Newsweek has reached out to the Iranian foreign ministry and the European Commision for comment.
Why It Matters
If Iran’s nuclear program is no longer under credible international monitoring, it poses a serious risk of proliferation. Tehran insists it does not seek nuclear weapons in response to Western and the International Atomic Energy Agency’s (IAEA) accusations, although it has enriched uranium to near bomb-grade.
Meanwhile, the nuclear deal is set to expire in October.
Deadline Nears
The next Iran-E3 meeting is set to take place Tuesday in Geneva, Iran state-affiliated Tasnim news agency reported. Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Friday that the snapback mechanism “would be legally baseless, morally unjustified, and carry serious consequences,” in a call with E3 counterparts.
European diplomats are considering a brief extension before triggering the “snapback” that would restore United Nations (U.N.) sanctions, contingent on Iran committing to renewed diplomacy and nuclear monitoring.
Tehran suspended formal cooperation with the U.N. watchdog after coordinated Israeli and U.S. airstrikes that hit several of its nuclear sites in June. The IAEA has since raised alarm over the fate of more than 400 kilograms of uranium enriched to 60 percent—close to weapons grade.
How Snapback Works
Under the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), any party to the deal can invoke the snapback provision if Iran is deemed in significant violation of its nuclear commitments.
The snapback mechanism was designed to ensure that U.N. sanctions could be swiftly reimposed without the risk of a veto by any Security Council member.
Once triggered, the mechanism sets in motion a 30-day period during which the Security Council must decide whether to continue the suspension of sanctions; otherwise, they are automatically restored. Unlike the normal veto process, in this case a Security Council veto works to maintain sanctions rather than block them.
As outlined in UN Resolution 2231, the sanctions include arms embargoes, limits on nuclear and missile-related technology, restrictions on access to international financial systems, and curbs on oil trade.
Experts warn that reimposing sanctions would deepen Iran’s isolation, risk unraveling the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), and further destabilize a region already under strain from conflicts.
Iran has turned to Russia and China for support against Western pressure. Both countries have said they opposed the potential European move.
“Their willingness—or refusal—to enforce UN restrictions will be a key determinant of whether the sanctions effectively isolate Iran or merely shift its oil exports toward non‑Western markets, blunting the intended economic pressure,” the International Institute for Iranian Studies (Rasanah), a Saudi-based think tank, noted in July.
What People Are Saying
Iran’s Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council Ali Larijani said in a Saturday interview with the Supreme Leader’s official website: “The behavior of the Europeans is clear—what they are doing requires no assessment and is more obvious than the sun. They are carrying out a part of America’s operation, but there is disagreement on this matter…From the perspective of observing international law, the scene is utterly tragic.”
China’s Foreign Ministry in Sunday statement: “China hopes that relevant parties will remain committed to resolving the Iranian nuclear issue through political and diplomatic means and actively create conditions for the early resumption of dialogue and negotiations.”
European Union High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy
Kaja Kallas wrote on X Friday: “Europe is committed to a diplomatic solution to the nuclear issue. With the deadline for the snapback mechanism fast approaching, Iran’s readiness to engage with the US is crucial. Iran must also fully cooperate with the @iaeaorg.”
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