Europe Disagree with US Requesting Reimposing UN Sanctions against Iran

The Foreign Ministers of Germany, France and Great Britain recalled that Washington withdrew from the nuclear deal with Tehran and therefore cannot use the mechanism for restoring UN penalties. Germany, France and the UK do not support the US requesting initiate the ‘snapback’ mechanism to launch reimposing sanctions against Iran in accordance with UN Security Council Resolution 2231. This is stated in a joint statement of the "triple EU states" (E3), made on behalf of German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas, as well as his French and British colleagues - Jean-Yves Le Drian and Dominique Raab. The full version of the document was posted on the website of the German Foreign Ministry on Thursday, August 20. The ministers stressed that Washington's actions are "incompatible with their current efforts" in support of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), which is the key to the nuclear deal with the Islamic Republic. Berlin, London and Paris recalled that Washington ceased to be a party to the JCPOA after withdrawing from the agreement on May 8, 2018 and therefore cannot activate the sanctions mechanism. "The current problem of Iran's systematic violations of its obligations" within the framework of this document should be resolved, rather, "through dialogue," the statement goes on to say. At the same time, the ministers called on everyone to refrain from any action that would only deepen divisions in the Security Council or that would have serious adverse consequences on its work." EU believes the US cannot use the UN sanctions mechanism The EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell spoke in a similar way. He also noted that "the United States cannot be considered as a member state of the JCPOA with a view to a possible revision of the sanctions provided for in the resolution." Earlier, on August 19, US President Donald Trump announced plans to return UN penalties against Tehran. The mechanism for reimposing sanctions was laid down in UN Security Council Resolution 2231, which ratified the nuclear deal with Iran, agreed in 2015. In accordance with this clause, in case of non-fulfillment of the terms of the agreement, any of its participants can demand the restoration of penal measures - and other parties cannot veto this demand. The White House is convinced that formally Washington has the right to use this mechanism, since it participated in resolution signing.