International powers advance plans to reinstate United Nations sanctions on Iran due to escalating concerns over its nuclear development program
In a significant move, Germany, France, and the United Kingdom (the E3 states) have requested the United Nations Security Council to apply the "Snapback Mechanism" on Iran's nuclear program. This action was taken on August 28, 2025, and if unresolved, it could lead to the reinstatement of UN sanctions against Iran by the end of September.
The E3 states believe that Iran is in significant non-performance of its commitments under a 2015 nuclear deal, aimed at resolving the standoff over Iran's nuclear program. The move comes just over two months after the end of a 12-day war between Israel and Iran, which further escalated accusations of Iranian non-compliance with the 2015 nuclear deal.
French Foreign Minister Barrot emphasised that this move does not signal the end of diplomacy, but rather a necessary step to halt Iran's nuclear escalation. He expressed determination to engage in dialogue with Iran during the 30-day period provided by the Snapback Mechanism.
The 2015 nuclear treaty was weakened due to US President Donald Trump leaving the accord during his first mandate. This decision, coupled with Iran's high enriched uranium stockpile, which has no civilian justification, has raised international concerns about Iran's nuclear program being a clear threat to international peace and security.
In a joint statement, the foreign ministers of Britain, Germany, and France stated that Iran's non-compliance with the 2015 nuclear deal is "clear and deliberate". They further invoked the Snapback Mechanism, initiating a 30-day process for reimposing sanctions suspended a decade ago.
Iran has previously warned that cooperation with the UN nuclear watchdog would be affected if the Snapback Mechanism was triggered. The window for triggering the mechanism closes on October 18, and if not resolved, UN sanctions against Iran will fully resume by the end of September 2025.
This article was published by AFP in 2025.
