US Secretary of State Rubio held telephone consultations with the foreign ministers of the UK, France, and Germany on the 14th, agreeing to set the end of August as the final deadline for Iran and the United States to reach a nuclear agreement. Otherwise, the three European countries will resume sanctions against Iran.
On the 15th, the US news site Axios, citing three sources familiar with the matter, reported that if an agreement could not be reached before the deadline, the UK, France, and Germany plan to initiate the so-called 'snapback sanctions' process to reinstate all sanctions on Iran.
The report pointed out that under the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action on Iran's nuclear issue, the 'snapback sanctions' clause allows signatories to take measures in response to Iran's violations. This clause is due to expire in October this year. As the 'snapback sanctions' process requires 30 days, the Europeans aim to complete the process before Russia assumes the rotating presidency of the UN Security Council in October.
The report stated that US and European officials regard this clause as a negotiating tool to pressure Iran, as well as a fallback in case diplomatic efforts fail. However, the Iranian side believes that re-imposing sanctions lacks legal basis and has threatened to withdraw from the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons in response.
The report said that European countries intend to engage with Iran in the coming days or weeks, indicating that if Iran takes measures to reassure the world about its nuclear program, it could avoid 'snapback sanctions.' Such measures may include restoring nuclear inspection and monitoring by the International Atomic Energy Agency. After the US and Israel bombed Iranian nuclear facilities in June, Iran suspended cooperation with the IAEA.