European countries to notify U.N. of 'snapback' sanctions on Iran

"Britain, France and Germany plan to jointly notify the United Nations Security Council on Thursday morning that Iran is in "significant" violation of the 2015 nuclear deal and that they will reinstate international sanctions that were suspended as part of that agreement. The "snapback" provisions of the deal would automatically go into effect after 30 days, restoring a wide array of measures, including a conventional arms embargo, restrictions on ballistic missile production, asset freezes and visa bans."

"The decision, according to several European officials who discussed the volatile situation on the condition of anonymity, comes after years of threats and weeks of unsuccessful negotiations between the three European countries and Tehran. Britain, France and Germany - along with the United States, European Union, Russia and China - were all part of the original 2015 agreement, from which President Donald Trump withdrew during his first term in office."

"Trump has employed a policy of "maximum pressure" U.S. sanctions against Iran and in June followed Israeli attacks on Iranian nuclear sites and scientists with a massive bombing campaign designed to destroy the three main facilities at the heart of the Islamic Republic's nuclear program. The brief summer conflict interrupted what had been halting talks between Washington and Tehran in pursuit of what Trump called a "better deal" to contain a program of uranium enrichment to bomb-grade levels."

Britain, France and Germany plan to notify the United Nations Security Council that Iran is in significant violation of the 2015 nuclear deal and to reinstate international sanctions suspended under that agreement. The deal's snapback provisions would automatically reactivate after 30 days, restoring measures such as a conventional arms embargo, ballistic missile restrictions, asset freezes and visa bans. European officials said the move followed years of threats and weeks of failed negotiations with Tehran. The three Europeans were original pact members alongside the United States, European Union, Russia and China; President Donald Trump withdrew the United States during his first term. Recent military strikes and a U.S. "maximum pressure" campaign have further strained talks.

Read at The Washington Post