Login to Continue Learning
Britain, France, and Germany warned that they are prepared to reimpose United Nations sanctions on Iran if the country fails to resume negotiations over its nuclear program and restore cooperation with the U.N.’s nuclear watchdog. Tehran has increasingly restricted International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) inspections of key facilities, using limited access as leverage in its standoff with the West. Following a June conflict with Israel that damaged nuclear-related sites, Iran suspended formal cooperation with the U.N. watchdog.
The IAEA’s most recent visit did not include inspections of enrichment plants or other sensitive locations. Western officials say these restrictions have heightened concerns about Iran’s growing stockpile of highly enriched uranium and the opacity of its nuclear activities. The deadline for Iran to resume cooperation with the IAEA and return to nuclear talks is August 31.
In a letter dated Friday, signed by French Foreign Minister Jean-Nöel Barrot and his German and British counterparts, the three nations warned that they are ready to trigger the “snapback” mechanism—a process allowing Western parties to restore sanctions if Iran violates the terms of the 2015 nuclear agreement. The letter was posted on X.
French President Emmanuel Macron, Germany’s Chancellor Friedrich Merz, and Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer met at a hotel in The Hague, Netherlands, ahead of an E3 meeting during the NATO summit.
“Since 2015,” the letter stated, “E3 have always committed to using all diplomatic tools at our disposal to ensure Iran does not develop nuclear weapons.” If Iran is not willing to reach a diplomatic solution by August 2025, or if it doesn’t seize an extension opportunity, E3 are prepared to trigger the snapback mechanism.
Iran’s government did not immediately respond. A senior lawmaker, Manouchehr Mottaki, warned that reinstatement of sanctions could prompt Iran to quit the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT). “We only need 24 hours to approve quitting the nuclear deal,” he said, adding that parliament has the authority to leave the NPT.
The E3 letter follows months of diplomatic stalemate after a June war between Iran and Israel. During the conflict, Israeli and American airstrikes targeted nuclear-related sites in Iran. Last month, the E3 met with Iranian officials at Tehran’s consulate in Istanbul to discuss potential reinstatement of sanctions. These sanctions were lifted in 2015 in exchange for strict limits on Iran’s nuclear activities.
Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesman, Esmail Baghaei, said ahead of the Istanbul talks that he hoped the E3 would reconsider their “previous unconstructive attitude.” However, negotiations with Washington for a new nuclear deal have stalled since June. Iran has cut ties with the IAEA; the U.N. watchdog’s first post-war visit did not include inspections and cooperation remains suspended.
A diplomat told The Associated Press that triggering the snapback mechanism would renew U.N. sanctions unless Iran restored full cooperation with the IAEA and addressed concerns about its stockpile of highly enriched uranium.
German Foreign Ministry spokesperson Josef Hinterseher said, “The legal preconditions for snapback have long existed.” He added: “Our position is clear: Iran still has the choice to return to diplomacy and full cooperation with the IAEA.”
The IAEA and U.S. intelligence agencies assessed that Iran halted its organized nuclear weapons program in 2003 but recently enriched uranium to 60%, a short step from 90% needed for weapons-grade material. The IAEA did not immediately respond.
Ninth Countries Possessing Nuclear Weapons
Nine countries are known to possess nuclear weapons: the United States, Russia, China, France, the United Kingdom, Pakistan, India, Israel, and North Korea. The first five are recognized as nuclear-armed states under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), having developed their arsenals before the treaty’s 1968 cutoff. The U.S. and Russia hold the largest stockpiles by far, together accounting for more than 90% of the world’s nuclear warheads, while China, France, and the U.K. maintain significantly smaller but still formidable forces.
Outside the NPT framework, India and Pakistan developed nuclear weapons in the late 20th century, and North Korea declared itself a nuclear state in the early 2000s after withdrawing from the treaty. Israel has never officially confirmed its arsenal but is widely believed to maintain nuclear weapons under a policy of deliberate ambiguity. Several other nations, including Iran, are suspected of pursuing or having pursued nuclear weapons capabilities, but have not openly tested or declared them.
This article includes reporting by The Associated Press.
