UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) – The United States and Iran are scheduled to engage in discussions on Saturday regarding Tehran’s nuclear program, meanwhile, Britain, France, and Germany are contemplating the possibility of reinstating sanctions on Iran at the United Nations before the 2015 nuclear agreement lapses in October.
Background on the 2015 Iran Nuclear Deal:
Several countries have raised concerns about Iran’s alleged pursuit of nuclear weapons, a claim Iran denies. In 2015, Iran, along with Britain, Germany, France, the U.S., Russia, and China, reached an agreement known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action. This deal led to the lifting of U.N., U.S., and European sanctions on Iran in exchange for restrictions on its nuclear activities, as enshrined by a U.N. Security Council resolution in July 2015.
The U.S. Stance on the Nuclear Deal:
Former U.S. President Donald Trump, labeling it as “the worst deal ever,” withdrew the U.S. from the JCPOA in 2018 during his first term and reinstated all U.S. sanctions on Tehran. Subsequently, Iran began scaling back its nuclear commitments under the agreement. Efforts to negotiate a resolution between Iran and the Biden administration have not made significant progress. Trump’s administration pursued a “maximum pressure” campaign on Iran and kept the option of military action on the table if Iran did not comply with demands to halt its nuclear program.
Current Actions by Iran:
The U.N.’s nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency, reported that Iran has significantly increased uranium enrichment levels to nearly 60% purity, approaching weapons-grade levels. Western nations argue against such high enrichment for civilian purposes, asserting that no other country has pursued this level without intentions for nuclear weaponry. Iran maintains that its nuclear activities are strictly peaceful.
Snapback Mechanism:
Under the terms of the 2015 agreement, there exists a process called “snapback” that could lead to the reinstatement of U.N. sanctions on Iran. This process can be activated if there are allegations of significant non-compliance by Iran. The United Nations Security Council, consisting of 15 members, would need to vote within 30 days on a resolution to extend Iran’s sanctions relief. The resolution requires nine affirmative votes and no vetoes from the U.S., Russia, China, Britain, or France to pass. Failure to adopt the resolution would result in the automatic reimposition of all U.N. sanctions on Iran unless further action is taken by the Security Council.
Previous U.S. Actions at the U.N.:
Despite Trump’s withdrawal from the nuclear deal, the U.S. declared in August 2020 that it initiated the snapback process, citing its continued participation in the 2015 resolution. However, the remaining parties to the agreement, including Iran, Germany, France, Britain, Russia, and China, rejected the U.S. move. Most members of the Security Council also opposed
Preparations are underway for a potential snapback in response to Iran’s nuclear activities. Key stakeholders are advocating for a comprehensive report from the IAEA to support the case for sanctions. Prior to implementing the snapback, parties involved must adhere to the dispute resolution mechanism outlined in the agreement, which was initiated by Britain, France, and Germany in January 2020. Russia has raised objections to this process.
In planning for a snapback action at the Security Council, it is important to note that Russia holds the presidency in September. Should the snapback occur, the Security Council would reinstate measures imposed on Iran in six resolutions between 2006 and 2010. These measures include an arms embargo, restrictions on uranium enrichment and reprocessing, prohibitions on missile launches and related activities, as well as asset freezes and travel bans on specific Iranian individuals and entities. Additionally, countries would be authorized to inspect certain Iranian cargo shipments for prohibited items.
(Reporting by Michelle Nichols; Editing by Cynthia Osterman)
