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lite.cnn.com - on gopher - inofficial | |
ARTICLE VIEW: | |
Iran faces reimposition of sanctions unless it negotiates on nuclear | |
program | |
By Tim Lister, Frederik Pleitgen and Joseph Ataman, CNN | |
Updated: | |
12:00 AM EDT, Tue August 26, 2025 | |
Source: CNN | |
Iran faces a renewal of UN-mandated sanctions within weeks unless it | |
returns to negotiations on the and allows international inspections of | |
its facilities. | |
The process for restoring sanctions that were lifted a decade ago under | |
a landmark nuclear deal could begin at the end of the month if a | |
meeting on Tuesday between Iran and three European nations fails to | |
make progress. | |
France, Germany and the United Kingdom have told the United Nations | |
they will move to reimpose sanctions through what’s known as the | |
‘snapback’ mechanism if Iran continues to violate its obligations | |
under the deal. | |
The snapback was built into the 2015 nuclear pact reached by Iran, the | |
US and the Europeans. Under the deal, Iran was granted sanctions relief | |
in return for strict and verifiable limits on its nuclear program. | |
But after US President Donald Trump , known as the JCPOA, during his | |
first term in office, Iran scaled back compliance by accelerating its | |
uranium enrichment close to weapons grade. | |
In a letter to the UN Security Council last week, foreign ministers of | |
the three European nations, known as the E3, said Iran had violated | |
“the near entirety of its JCPOA commitments.” | |
“We have made clear that if Iran is not willing to reach a diplomatic | |
solution before the end of August 2025, or does not seize the | |
opportunity of an extension, E3 are prepared to trigger the snapback | |
mechanism.” | |
Iran suspended nuclear negotiations with the US, which were aimed at | |
curbing its enrichment program, after the US and Israel during a 12-day | |
war in June. | |
Since then, inspectors from the UN’s nuclear watchdog, the | |
International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), have been unable to access | |
Iran’s nuclear installations. | |
The snapback automatically reimposes all UN Security Council sanctions | |
that were lifted under the 2015 deal. Those sanctions, introduced | |
between 2006 and 2010, include an arms embargo, restrictions on uranium | |
enrichment, and bans on Iran acquiring technology related to its | |
ballistic missile program. The measures also contributed to severe | |
pressure on Iran’s oil and financial sectors. | |
The snapback process takes 30 days, and the Europeans are aware that | |
Russia assumes the presidency of the Security Council in October and | |
may obstruct the process. | |
Iran prepares for measures against European nations | |
In a phone call with his counterparts from the UK, France and Germany | |
on Friday, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi warned that | |
triggering the snapback mechanism would carry serious consequences, | |
state-run Press TV reported. | |
Iran is preparing for “the worst scenarios,” an Iranian official | |
told CNN last week, “taking it for granted that the E3 are set to | |
exhaust their sole remaining leverage to please President Trump.” | |
The source said that among the options Iran is considering are more | |
limitations on Tehran’s cooperation with the IAEA, a withdrawal from | |
the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) and putting the E3 on | |
“hostile states” lists, which would allow the Iranian armed forces | |
to inspect vessels that are flagged, bound or owned by the European | |
states in the Persian Gulf and the Sea of Oman. | |
“The E3 is further reducing their role into irrelevance by nagging | |
like a frustrated kid. They have lost their moral and political compass | |
failing to appreciate their status versus those of Americans in West | |
Asian power politics,” the source said. | |
Tuesday’s meeting will be held at the deputy foreign minister level, | |
Press TV reported. | |
Analysts say the reimposition of sanctions triggered by the snapback | |
would damage the already beleaguered Iranian economy. | |
“In the short term, snapback will hurt the Iranian economy, largely | |
by creating problems for euro liquidity, which is important for | |
Iran’s ability to reliably buy essential goods, like pharmaceuticals. | |
The sanctions will also hit consumer and business confidence in | |
Iran,” according to analyst Esfandyar Batmanghelidj. | |
But he expects China will “continue to purchase Iranian oil. The | |
(United Arab Emirates) will continue to facilitate trade for Iranian | |
importers. Iraq will continue to act as a market for Iranian | |
exporters.” | |
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