Iran warns Europe against reimposing nuclear sanctions

Iran on Sunday strongly rejected any attempts by the United Kingdom, Germany and France to reimpose sanctions lifted under the 2015 nuclear deal, insisting that the European powers have no legal, political, or moral authority to do so.

Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi wrote on X, the US-based social media platform, that the E3 countries’ move to invoke the “snapback” mechanism is illegitimate. “It is not just that the E3 has no legal, political, or moral entitlement to invoke ‘snapback,’ and that even if they did, ‘use or lose it’ doesn't work,” he said. Araghchi added, “The correct expression for the E3's dilemma is ‘use it and lose it.’ Or better yet, ‘use it and lose it all.’”

Last month, the E3 announced they had triggered the snapback under UN Security Council Resolution 2231, which could restore sanctions within 30 days if Iran fails to meet its obligations under the deal. The nuclear agreement, from which the US withdrew during Donald Trump’s presidency, had offered Iran relief from sanctions in exchange for limits on its nuclear program.

Tensions have escalated since June, when Iran suspended cooperation with the UN nuclear watchdog, accusing the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) of bias. In mid-June, Israel launched attacks on Iranian military, nuclear, and civilian sites, prompting Tehran to retaliate with missile and drone strikes. The US also targeted three Iranian nuclear sites. The conflict ended with a US-sponsored ceasefire on June 24.

Western nations are now pressing Iran to return to negotiations over the future of its nuclear program and to allow international inspections of its facilities, but Tehran has so far resisted these calls amid ongoing tensions.