France, UK, Germany Threaten Return of Iran Sanctions

Officials from France, Britain, and Germany have indicated they are prepared to restore strict sanctions on Iran by the close of August if negotiations on the country’s nuclear program fail to show progress, according to Western diplomatic sources.

Penalties previously lifted under the 2015 nuclear agreement—contingent on Iran restricting and submitting its nuclear activities to international oversight—are expected to be reinstated “at the latest” by the end of next month unless there is movement on the diplomatic front, France’s Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot stated in Brussels on Tuesday.

This announcement comes amid growing urgency among global powers to find a path forward after recent military actions by the United States and Israel targeting Iranian assets have escalated tensions.

“France and its partners are … justified in reapplying global embargoes on arms, banks and nuclear equipment that were lifted 10 years ago,” Barrot told reporters before a meeting with European Union foreign ministers in Brussels.

“Without a firm, tangible and verifiable commitment from Iran, we will do so by the end of August at the latest.”

Sanctions Trigger Mechanism

According to a clause in the 2015 pact often referred to as the “snapback,” parties to the agreement may call for sanctions to be reimposed if Iran fails to meet its obligations.

On Tuesday, the UK, France, and Germany’s representatives at the United Nations convened to deliberate over initiating the snapback procedure, according to an Indian media report.

The same issue was a topic of discussion during a phone call on Monday involving the foreign ministers of the three European countries and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, as confirmed by two American officials familiar with the matter.

Iran’s delegation to the UN has not issued any formal reply regarding the possible return of sanctions, the report noted.

Still, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stated recently that if European powers pursue this course of action, it would “end” their involvement as neutral brokers in Iran’s nuclear discussions with the United States.

Tehran Says It’s Open to Dialogue—Under Conditions

Talks between Iran and the U.S. were reportedly ongoing earlier this year to address the future of Tehran’s nuclear development. However, these were disrupted following joint airstrikes by the U.S. and Israel in June.

Former U.S. President Donald Trump, during his earlier term in office, withdrew from the 2015 nuclear pact in 2018, arguing the agreement lacked the necessary safeguards.

Following the June attacks, Iran halted its cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency, which is tasked with monitoring its nuclear sites.

Araghchi noted that Iran is willing to return to negotiations with Washington if the U.S. can offer “a firm guarantee” that no further military actions will take place.

He emphasized that the combined Israeli and American strikes had “made it more difficult and complicated to achieve a solution.”

A statement issued through the Iranian Students’ News Agency quoted the country’s parliament on Wednesday, saying that Iran should not resume discussions with the U.S. unless certain conditions are satisfied. The report did not provide specifics on what those conditions entailed.

Meanwhile, Trump and his envoy for Middle East affairs, Steve Witkoff, have stated that talks with Iran would be arranged soon, although no exact date has been confirmed.

China Voices Support for Iran’s Position

China has expressed its backing for Iran’s efforts to maintain its sovereignty and withstand international pressure. On Wednesday, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi assured his Iranian counterpart that Beijing would continue to oppose “power politics and bullying.”

“China attaches importance to Iran’s commitment not to develop nuclear weapons and respects Iran’s right to peacefully use nuclear energy,” Wang said, according to a release by his ministry.