French FM: EU may reimpose sanctions on Iran if nuclear talks stall

The European Union could resume unilateral sanctions against Iran if negotiations over Tehran’s nuclear program fail within the next 30 days and UN Security Council sanctions are reinstated, French Minister for European and Foreign Affairs Jean-Noël Barrot said ahead of an informal EU foreign ministers’ meeting in Copenhagen.

According to Russian media, Barrot recalled that the E3 —comprising the UK, France, and Germany — recently decided to trigger the snapback mechanism to restore UN Security Council sanctions against Iran, which were lifted under the 2015 nuclear agreement. These sanctions target Iran’s financial, banking, energy, and defence sectors.

The E3 has signalled its willingness to continue negotiations on Iran’s nuclear program for a 30-day period, aiming to extend UN Security Council Resolution 2231, which expires on October 18.

Barrot stated: “A 30-day period will begin, after which these sanctions will be reimposed. In the second stage, European sanctions may also be reinstated if Iran does not agree within these 30 days to the measures we have clearly outlined. The door to diplomacy remains open.”

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi criticised the E3’s actions, saying they “further reinforce doubts about the true intentions towards Iran and make it difficult to achieve a diplomatic settlement.” He warned that Tehran would take retaliatory measures.

In a letter to UN Secretary-General António Guterres, Araghchi expressed Iran’s willingness to continue constructive cooperation with world powers to reach a new nuclear agreement, provided that Iran’s interests are respected.

By Tamilla Hasanova