Iran, Europe in Talks as Snapback Sanctions Threat Looms
TEHRAN – Iran and European powers will resume high-level talks next week amid growing tensions over Tehran’s nuclear program, with the threat of sweeping UN sanctions hanging over the Islamic Republic.
Iran suspended cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in July following its 12-day war with Israel, accusing the UN nuclear watchdog of failing to condemn Israeli and U.S. strikes on its nuclear facilities.
The so-called E3 — Britain, France, and Germany — have warned that unless Iran curbs uranium enrichment and restores IAEA access, they could trigger the “snapback mechanism” before the end of August. This move would reinstate UN sanctions lifted under the 2015 nuclear deal.
After a phone call between Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and senior European diplomats, Tehran’s foreign ministry confirmed that talks with the E3 and the European Union will continue next Tuesday at the level of deputy foreign ministers.
French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot confirmed the call, cautioning that Iran faced a narrowing window of time. “Time is running out. A new meeting will take place next week on this issue,” he said on X, joined by his British and German counterparts and EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas.
German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul stressed that diplomacy remains on the table but warned that Tehran must act quickly: “Iran needs to engage substantively to avoid the activation of snapback.”
The EU’s Kallas echoed the urgency, saying Iran must also show readiness to work with the United States and fully cooperate with the IAEA.
It remains unclear where next week’s meeting — the second since the Iran-Israel conflict — will be held.
Snapback Consequences
The latest standoff comes after Israel launched a massive bombing campaign in June against Iranian nuclear, military, and civilian targets, with the U.S. also striking Iranian sites. Tehran retaliated with missile strikes on Israel.
Iran and the E3 last met in late July in Istanbul, with Tehran describing the talks as “frank.” However, negotiations with Washington remain frozen.
The 2015 nuclear deal, designed to block Iran from developing a nuclear weapon — a charge Tehran denies — has been in crisis since former U.S. President Donald Trump withdrew from it in 2018 and reimposed sanctions.
On Friday, Araghchi dismissed the European threat, saying the three countries lack the “legal and moral competence” to activate snapback and warned of “serious consequences.”
Ali Larijani, secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, accused the Europeans of acting on Washington’s behalf. He also warned that Tehran could reconsider its membership in the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) if snapback sanctions are triggered.
“The possibility has always existed for Iran to leave the NPT,” Larijani said, though he noted Tehran has so far remained committed despite gaining “no benefit” from the treaty.
The official deadline for triggering snapback sanctions falls in October, but European diplomats have set an internal target of late August, with the option of a short extension to allow further talks.
Larijani, however, rejected that idea outright: “Iran truly does not accept this.”
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