European powers have warned Tehran that failure to engage in meaningful negotiations on reviving the nuclear accord could trigger the United Nations snapback mechanism, reimposing international sanctions on Iran.
The warning followed a high-level diplomatic meeting involving foreign ministers of the United Kingdom, France, Germany and the European Union, who met with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Aragchi. Officials stressed the urgency of returning to dialogue, particularly in the wake of Israeli and US strikes on Iranian nuclear sites last month that have sharply escalated tensions.
France’s foreign ministry, speaking on behalf of the European participants, confirmed that Tehran had been cautioned that "if progress is not made", the reactivation of sanctions would follow.
They urged Iran to demonstrate its commitment, saying: “The urgency of returning to the diplomatic means without hesitant delays in order to secure a valuable, verifiable, and durable agreement on Iran’s nuclear programme” had been conveyed.
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Tehran’s nuclear activities have drawn increasing scrutiny following the preventive strikes by Israel and Washington—actions widely criticised as violations of international law.
At the heart of the dispute is the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), an agreement that allows the reimposition of UN sanctions—commonly referred to as the snapback mechanism, should Iran be found in breach of its obligations.
European diplomats are pressing for significant progress by the end of August, ahead of the agreement’s formal expiration in October.
Indirect negotiations between Iran and the United States, brokered by Oman, had made some headway earlier this year. However, the Israeli strike on 13 June, followed by US attacks, brought the talks to an abrupt halt.
Adding to the uncertainty, a senior adviser to Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said earlier this week that no further nuclear talks with Washington would take place if they were conditional upon Tehran ceasing its uranium enrichment activities.
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