Tehran – Iran recalled its ambassadors to France, Germany, and the UK on Saturday to consult over the dispute mechanism for reinstating UN sanctions, reports 24brussels.
The decision follows a failed last-minute attempt by the UN Security Council to postpone sanctions, with Western nations citing weeks of negotiations that did not yield a “concrete” agreement. As a result, the deadline for reinstating sanctions arrives today.
This move came after a Russian and Chinese initiative to defer the reinstatement of international sanctions on Iran, which had limited support at the Security Council, ultimately facilitating the path for sanctions to be reimposed. Only four countries backed the resolution proposed by Russia and China, leaving it unpassed.
China, Russia, Pakistan, and Algeria supported extending Iran’s negotiation period with the E3 countries—comprising the UK, France, and Germany—and the United States, which exited the nuclear accord in 2018.
What happened at the UN Security Council meeting?
During the Security Council proceedings, Iran’s foreign minister condemned the US for undermining diplomatic efforts, accusing France, the UK, and Germany of having “buried” diplomacy.
“This sordid mess did not come about overnight. Both the E3 and the U.S. have consistently misrepresented Iran’s peaceful nuclear program.”
Following the vote, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian addressed journalists and Iran experts at a meeting on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly, asserting that despite earlier threats, Iran would not withdraw from the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty, which North Korea exited in 2003.
The reinstated sanctions are expected to lead to the freezing of Iranian assets abroad, inhibit arms agreements with Tehran, and impose penalties on advancements in Iran’s ballistic missile program, tightening economic pressure on the country.
Why did Europe trigger the snapback sanctions mechanism last month?
In the previous month, European leaders activated the “snapback” mechanism, citing Iran’s failure to comply with the nuclear accord and the lack of successful high-level diplomatic negotiations.
The UK, France, and Germany initiated these sanctions due to Tehran’s non-cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency and its avoidance of direct discussions with the US.
Beginning in 2007, the European nations implemented sanctions against Iran due to its nuclear program, with significant actions taken in June of that year when Britain, France, and Germany announced sanctions for Iran’s uranium enrichment expansion and limited access for UN inspectors.