E3 trigger un snapback
Britain, France and Germany have reimposed United Nations sanctions on Iran after accusing Tehran of persistently breaching commitments to keep its nuclear programme peaceful.
The so-called “snapback” mechanism was activated at the end of August, and from Saturday night six earlier UN Security Council resolutions came back into force. These measures, which include sanctions on proliferation activities, had been lifted under the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPoA).
Iran breaches commitments
According to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Iran now holds 48 times the agreed limit of enriched uranium and has built up at least 10 “significant quantities” of highly enriched uranium – enough material that could potentially be used in nuclear weapons. Crucially, this stockpile is outside international monitoring.
Foreign secretary Yvette Cooper and her French and German counterparts said Iran had shown “no credible civilian justification” for producing material at such levels. The ministers added they had “no choice” but to trigger snapback after years of failed efforts to restore the deal.
Diplomacy still open
The E3 stressed they had offered Iran multiple chances to return to compliance, including a one-time extension in July if Tehran agreed to resume talks with Washington and curb its uranium stockpile. Those proposals were rejected.
Despite sanctions being reinstated, the ministers said diplomacy remained on the table. “The reimposition of UN sanctions is not the end of diplomacy,” the joint statement said. “We urge Iran to refrain from escalatory action and to return to compliance.”
Global pressure
The move follows a Security Council vote earlier this month that rejected maintaining sanctions relief for Iran. Britain, France and Germany are now pressing all UN member states to implement the restrictions in full.
The decision is the most serious escalation by European powers since the collapse of efforts in 2021 and 2022 to revive the nuclear deal. It also underscores growing fears that Iran is edging closer to weapons capability at a time of heightened regional instability.
