European countries trigger snapback sanctions against Iran

If it comes into effect, the decision will reimpose all UN Security Council sanctions that were paused under the 2015 Iran nuclear deal, including asset freezes, visa bans, an arms embargo and restrictions on ballistic missile production.

The sanctions will further squeeze Iran’s embattled economy, which has not recovered from the 12-day June war with Israel.

A UK official said the announcement opens a 30-day window in which the E3 remains “open to diplomacy” with Tehran. The move follows years of stalled negotiations and repeated efforts to revive the nuclear deal.

The E3 said they “engaged in good faith in negotiations,” but Iran “refused” packages on the table.

Foreign Secretary David Lammy, who has led the UK’s diplomatic efforts in the current government, highlighted the “threat to global peace and security” posed by Iran’s nuclear programme. 

He said the UK and its European allies had “negotiated in good faith since 2019, when Iran began to disregard the nuclear deal.

“We supported a viable deal in 2022, which Iran rejected, and recently offered an extension to sanctions relief, subject to Iran meeting set conditions,” Lammy went on.

“However, despite repeated warnings, Iran has made no substantive effort to meet the conditions of our extension offer and has consistently failed to provide credible assurances on the nature of its nuclear programme.”

“Whilst we have been left with no choice but to take this action, the ball remains in Iran’s court and I would welcome their return to the table with a serious offer.”

Britain, France and Germany – along with the United States, European Union, Russia and China – were original signatories to the 2015 deal, which President Donald Trump withdrew from in 2018.

In recent years, Iran has disregarded key JCPOA requirements. According to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), in May 2025, Iran was accumulating uranium enriched up to 60 per cent.

A statement from the three countries said that Iran’s non-compliance with the JCPOA “is clear and deliberate”.

The E3 noted that “sites of major proliferation concern in Iran are outside of IAEA monitoring.

“Iran has no civilian justification for its high enriched uranium stockpile,” the statement went on. “Its nuclear programme therefore remains a clear threat to international peace and security.”

The timing of the snapback is crucial, as October 18 marks “termination day” under UN Security Council Resolution 2231, after which the legal authority to trigger snapback sanctions expires, unless a new resolution blocks it.