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Iran sanctions reimposed 10 years after landmark nuclear deal | |
(about 1 hour later) | |
UK Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper issued the statement on Iran alongside her French and German counterparts | UK Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper issued the statement on Iran alongside her French and German counterparts |
Sweeping UN economic and military sanctions have been reimposed on Iran - 10 years after they were lifted in a landmark international deal over its nuclear programme. | |
The new measures took effect as the three European partners to the deal - the UK, France and Germany - activated the so-called "snapback" mechanism, accusing Iran of "continued nuclear escalation" and lack of co-operation. | |
"We urge Iran to refrain from any escalatory action," they said in a joint statement, adding: "The reimposition of UN sanctions is not the end of diplomacy." | "We urge Iran to refrain from any escalatory action," they said in a joint statement, adding: "The reimposition of UN sanctions is not the end of diplomacy." |
Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian insisted last week that the country had no intention of developing nuclear weapons. | |
Iran stepped up its banned nuclear activity after the US quit the deal in 2016. Donald Trump pulled the US out in his first term as president, criticising the agreement - the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) - negotiated under his predecessor Barack Obama as flawed. | Iran stepped up its banned nuclear activity after the US quit the deal in 2016. Donald Trump pulled the US out in his first term as president, criticising the agreement - the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) - negotiated under his predecessor Barack Obama as flawed. |
Talks between the three countries and Iran on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly earlier this week failed to produce a deal which would have delayed the sanctions being reimposed. | Talks between the three countries and Iran on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly earlier this week failed to produce a deal which would have delayed the sanctions being reimposed. |
A satellite image shows Fordo, one of the nuclear sites bombed by the US | A satellite image shows Fordo, one of the nuclear sites bombed by the US |
In a joint statement early on Sunday, the foreign ministers of the three European countries, known as the E3, said: "Given that Iran repeatedly breached these commitments, the E3 had no choice but to trigger the snapback procedure, at the end of which those resolutions were brought back into force." | In a joint statement early on Sunday, the foreign ministers of the three European countries, known as the E3, said: "Given that Iran repeatedly breached these commitments, the E3 had no choice but to trigger the snapback procedure, at the end of which those resolutions were brought back into force." |
In the meantime, they said they would "continue to pursue diplomatic routes and negotiations". | In the meantime, they said they would "continue to pursue diplomatic routes and negotiations". |
They cited Iran's failure to "take the necessary actions to address our concerns, nor to meet our asks on extension, despite extensive dialogue". | They cited Iran's failure to "take the necessary actions to address our concerns, nor to meet our asks on extension, despite extensive dialogue". |
Specifically, they mentioned Tehran's refusal to cooperate with the UN nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency. | Specifically, they mentioned Tehran's refusal to cooperate with the UN nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency. |
"Iran has not authorised IAEA inspectors to regain access to Iran's nuclear sites, nor has it produced and transmitted to the IAEA a report accounting for its stockpile of high-enriched uranium," the statement read. | "Iran has not authorised IAEA inspectors to regain access to Iran's nuclear sites, nor has it produced and transmitted to the IAEA a report accounting for its stockpile of high-enriched uranium," the statement read. |
Iran suspended IAEA inspections after Israel and the US bombed several of its nuclear sites and military bases in June. | Iran suspended IAEA inspections after Israel and the US bombed several of its nuclear sites and military bases in June. |
Under the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, Iran is legally obliged to allow inspections of its nuclear sites, and on Friday the IAEA confirmed that they had resumed. | Under the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, Iran is legally obliged to allow inspections of its nuclear sites, and on Friday the IAEA confirmed that they had resumed. |
But while Iran has been in talks with the IAEA to find a way forward, it has also warned that a return of sanctions would put that in jeopardy. | But while Iran has been in talks with the IAEA to find a way forward, it has also warned that a return of sanctions would put that in jeopardy. |
Pezeshkian has walked back from his earlier threats of Iran quitting the Non-Proliferation Treaty altogether. | Pezeshkian has walked back from his earlier threats of Iran quitting the Non-Proliferation Treaty altogether. |
However, speaking to reporters on Friday, he said Tehran would need reassurances that its nuclear facilities would not be attacked by Israel in order to normalise its nuclear enrichment programme. | However, speaking to reporters on Friday, he said Tehran would need reassurances that its nuclear facilities would not be attacked by Israel in order to normalise its nuclear enrichment programme. |
He also rejected a US demand to hand over all of Iran's stockpile of enriched uranium in return for a three-month exemption from sanctions, saying: "Why would we put ourselves in such a trap and have a noose around our neck each month?" | He also rejected a US demand to hand over all of Iran's stockpile of enriched uranium in return for a three-month exemption from sanctions, saying: "Why would we put ourselves in such a trap and have a noose around our neck each month?" |
Iran said on Saturday that it was recalling its ambassadors to the UK, France and Germany for consultations. | Iran said on Saturday that it was recalling its ambassadors to the UK, France and Germany for consultations. |