Tehran threatens consequences if EU3 reinstates sanctions on Iran

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has warned that an attempt by the EU3 (Great Britain, Germany and France) to initiate a “snapback” procedure would lead to a serious escalation.

For the record, this mechanism implies the restoration of all UN Security Council sanctions against Tehran in connection with its nuclear program, lifted under the terms of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) of 2015.

“Iran has made its position clear. We have officially warned all JCPOA signatories that any abuse of the “snapback” mechanism will have consequences—not only ending Europe’s role in the agreement, but also triggering an escalation of tensions that could become irreversible,” Caliber.Az quotes Araghchi as saying in a post on X.

He added, “The E3 group must ask itself how we reached this impasse.”

In the post, Araghchi recalled his recent consultations in Russia and China, where he expressed his willingness to travel to Paris, Berlin, and London to open a new chapter: “This initiative has led to preliminary discussions at the deputy foreign minister level—a fragile but promising start. But time is running out.”

“How we respond to this crucial moment will shape the future of Iran-Europe relations far more deeply than many realise. Iran is ready to turn the page. We hope our European partners are as well,” the foreign minister added.

The EU3, also known as the E3—comprising France, Germany, and the United Kingdom—have played a central diplomatic role in negotiations surrounding Iran’s nuclear program since the early 2000s. Their efforts culminated in the signing of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) in July 2015, alongside Iran, the United States, Russia, China, and the European Union. The agreement was designed to limit Iran’s nuclear activities in exchange for relief from international sanctions, with the broader aim of ensuring the peaceful nature of Iran’s nuclear program.

The E3, in coordination with the EU’s High Representative for Foreign Affairs, were instrumental in facilitating dialogue and maintaining a multilateral diplomatic framework during both the negotiation and early implementation phases of the JCPOA. Following the U.S. withdrawal from the accord in May 2018 under the Trump administration, the E3 sought to preserve the agreement by encouraging Iran to remain in compliance and creating financial mechanisms (such as INSTEX) to facilitate trade despite U.S. sanctions.

A key enforcement tool within the JCPOA is the so-called snapback mechanism, which allows any participant state to initiate a process that could lead to the re-imposition of all previously lifted UN Security Council sanctions on Iran. The procedure was built into UN Security Council Resolution 2231, which endorsed the JCPOA, as a safeguard in case Iran were found to be in significant non-compliance.

Although originally designed as a last resort, the snapback mechanism has become a source of political contention. In 2020, the U.S.—despite having withdrawn from the JCPOA—attempted to invoke the mechanism, a move rejected by the E3 and other Security Council members on legal grounds.

Now, with Iran expanding its nuclear activities beyond the limits set by the JCPOA, the E3 are reportedly weighing whether to activate the snapback procedure themselves. This prospect has triggered warnings from Tehran, which views such a move as a grave escalation that could permanently sever ties between Iran and Europe, and effectively collapse the remnants of the JCPOA.

By Khagan Isayev