Iran faces renewed sanctions push from UK, France over nuclear deal breach

The United Kingdom and France have formally requested closed-door consultations at the United Nations Security Council, set for August 29, to deliberate on the potential reinstatement of sanctions against Iran.

“France and the United Kingdom have requested closed consultations to discuss Iran’s significant deviation from fulfilling its obligations,” said a diplomatic source familiar with the matter, Caliber.Az reports, citing Russian media.

On August 28, the E3 — comprising the United Kingdom, Germany, and France — announced their decision to reactivate sanctions on Iran, citing concerns over recent advances in the Iranian nuclear program. Central to this move is the invocation of the snapback mechanism, a provision within the 2015 nuclear agreement that would trigger the automatic restoration of UN Security Council sanctions against the Islamic Republic.

Despite these allegations of Iran’s non-compliance with the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), the European trio emphasized their continued commitment to diplomatic engagement with Tehran, underscoring that dialogue remains a priority even amid rising tensions.

In response, Iranian officials have voiced hope that the E3 will reconsider their decision, describing the sanctions’ reinstatement as a “mistake” that should be rectified to preserve regional stability and ongoing diplomatic efforts.

By Vafa Guliyeva