Iran Nuclear Deal on Brink of Collapse as Europeans Threaten Snapback Sanctions

Representatives of the European trio of Britain, France, and Germany, known as the E3, failed to agree with Iran on a way to avoid the reimposition of U.N. sanctions over Tehran's nuclear program. The talks, which took place in Geneva, ended without a final outcome, and efforts will continue to search for a solution ahead of an E3 deadline at the end of the month. The Europeans are concerned about Iran's nuclear program, which has been enriching uranium to near weapons-grade levels, and have deemed it non-compliant with the 2015 Iran nuclear deal. Iran has long insisted its program is peaceful, though it is the only non-nuclear-armed nation enriching uranium at that level.

Key Takeaways:

• The European trio of Britain, France, and Germany (E3) is threatening to reimpose U.N. sanctions on Iran over its nuclear program, citing non-compliance with the 2015 Iran nuclear deal.
• The talks in Geneva ended without a final outcome, and efforts will continue to search for a solution ahead of an E3 deadline at the end of the month.
• The Europeans are concerned about Iran's nuclear program, which has been enriching uranium to near weapons-grade levels, and has deemed it non-compliant with the 2015 Iran nuclear deal.
• Iran has long insisted its program is peaceful, though it is the only non-nuclear-armed nation enriching uranium at that level.
• The snapback mechanism of the 2015 Iran nuclear deal would return U.N. sanctions to pre-deal levels, including a conventional arms embargo, restrictions on ballistic missile development, asset freezes, travel bans, and a ban on producing nuclear-related technology.
• The talks follow a previous meeting between the Europeans and Iran in Istanbul on July 25.
• Kazem Gharibabadi, Iran's deputy foreign minister for legal and international affairs, said Tehran remains committed to diplomacy and urged the Europeans to make the right choice and give diplomacy time and space.
• The Europeans agreed with the U.S. earlier this year to set an end-of-August deadline for invoking the mechanism if Iran fails to meet several conditions, including resuming negotiations with the U.S. over its nuclear program, allowing U.N. nuclear inspectors access to its nuclear sites, and accounting for the over 400 kilograms of highly enriched uranium.
• The snapback provision of the 2015 Iran nuclear deal can be invoked by any party if they find Iran out of compliance with requirements, and its purpose is to swiftly reimpose all pre-deal sanctions without being vetoed by U.N. Security Council members, including permanent members Russia and China.

Statistics:

• Iran has enriched uranium to near weapons-grade levels, with a stockpile of uranium enriched to 60% purity, a short technical step to weapons-grade levels of 90%.
• The U.S., the IAEA, and others say Iran had a nuclear weapons program up until 2003.
• The Europeans agreed with the U.S. earlier this year to set an end-of-August deadline for invoking the mechanism if Iran fails to meet several conditions.
• Iran is the only non-nuclear-armed nation enriching uranium at that level.

Sources:

• File photo: AP Photo/Lisa Leutner, File
• Author: Stephanie Leichtenstein
• Associated Press writer: Farnoush Amiri at the United Nations contributed to this report.
• Sources:

* File photo: AP Photo/Lisa Leutner, File

* Associated Press: Stephanie Leichtenstein

* United Nations: Farnoush Amiri