The United Nations Security Council is gearing up to vote on Friday to reimpose deep economic sanctions on Iran, targeting its nuclear program. Tehran has slammed the move as 'cruel' and 'without legal or logical justification.'
Britain, France and Germany, the E3 signatories of the 2015 nuclear deal, allege that Iran has breached its commitments under the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA). French President Emmanuel Macron told Israeli television that he expected sanctions to snap back by month-end, calling Iran's recent responses 'not serious.'
In late August, the E3 triggered a 30-day process under the so-called snapback mechanism. They offered to delay sanctions for up to six months if Iran restores full access for UN nuclear inspectors, accounts for its large stockpile of enriched uranium, and re-enters talks with the United States.
On Thursday, Iran's Foreign Minister Seyyed Abbas Araghchi presented what he described as a 'reasonable and actionable plan' to the Europeans. He highlighted the country's cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency, including a new framework to safeguard facilities damaged by June attacks.
The vote could enact sanctions as early as next week, though the UN high-level meeting—where Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian is expected—might offer a last chance for diplomacy. Western nations and Israel accuse Tehran of seeking nuclear weapons, a claim Iran denies.
Under the JCPOA, Iran agreed to curb its uranium enrichment in exchange for sanctions relief. After the United States withdrew in 2018 and reimposed penalties, Tehran scaled back its compliance, setting the stage for this pivotal UN vote.
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UNSC votes on reimposing nuclear sanctions that Iran called 'cruel'
cgtn.com
