France, Germany, UK Ready To Reinstate Sanctions On Iran

France, Germany, and the United Kingdom have informed the United Nations that they are prepared to reimpose sanctions on Iran if it does not resume negotiations over its nuclear programme.

In a joint letter sent on Tuesday, the foreign ministers of the three countries known as the E3, warned they could trigger the “snapback” mechanism unless Iran acts before the end of August 2025. They said Iran had so far ignored an offer for a limited extension to allow direct talks between Tehran and Washington.

The E3, along with China and Russia, remain parties to the 2015 nuclear agreement, which lifted sanctions on Iran in exchange for restrictions on its nuclear activities. The United States withdrew from the deal in 2018.

The warning follows recent talks in Istanbul, described by the ministers as “serious, frank and detailed” the first in-person meeting since Israeli and U.S. strikes targeted Iranian nuclear sites in June.

In response, senior Iranian lawmaker Manouchehr Mottaki said parliament would move to withdraw from the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) within 24 hours if the E3 reinstates sanctions. He added that lawmakers could also approve Iran’s exit from the 2015 nuclear deal under the same circumstances.

Iran has previously signalled that such steps were being considered, particularly during its 12-day conflict with Israel in June. The NPT, ratified by Iran in 1970, permits civilian nuclear energy development but prohibits the acquisition of nuclear weapons, under the oversight of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).