France, the United Kingdom, and Germany have agreed to restore harsh United Nations(UN) sanctions on Iran by the end of August if no concrete progress is made on a nuclear deal. According to Western diplomats and officials, the economic penalties on Iran that were lifted under a 2015 agreement in return for allowing restrictions and monitoring of its nuclear program would return by the end of next month “at the latest” if there is no breakthrough.
French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot emphasized that France and its partners are justified in reapplying global embargoes on arms, banks, and nuclear equipment that were lifted 10 years ago. “Without a firm, tangible, and verifiable commitment from Iran, we will do so by the end of August at the latest,” Barrot told reporters in Brussels. This stance was reiterated after a meeting with EU foreign ministers, where the ambassadors of the three countries to the United Nations discussed reimposing sanctions.
The decision comes amid mounting pressure on diplomats to find a new solution to Iran’s nuclear ambitions, which Tehran insists are civilian in nature. This development follows massive Israeli and United States strikes on the country last month. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi recently stated that Tehran would accept a resumption of nuclear talks with Washington as long as it provides “a firm guarantee” that there would be no further attacks. Araghchi also warned that the return of UN sanctions by the European signatories of the 2015 nuclear deal would “end” Europe’s role in the Iranian nuclear issue and as a mediator between Tehran and Washington.
The US and Iran were engaged in extended negotiations over Tehran’s nuclear program before the Israeli strikes began in June. US President Donald Trump unilaterally withdrew the US from the Iran nuclear agreement in 2018 during his first term in office, declaring it too weak on Iran. After the attacks in June, Iran suspended cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency, which monitors its nuclear program.
In a statement, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said the US airstrikes so badly damaged his country’s nuclear facilities that Iranian authorities still have not been able to access them to survey the destruction. Trump and his Middle East envoy, Steve Witkoff, have said talks with Iran would happen soon, but nothing has been scheduled. Meanwhile, China has expressed support for Iran, with Foreign Minister Wang Yi stating that China will continue to support Iran in safeguarding its national sovereignty and dignity and respects Iran’s right to peacefully use nuclear energy.