Last week, the Iranian delegation initiated discussions regarding nuclear affairs with representatives from Germany, Britain, and France. Tensions have been escalating, with potential reactivation of the ‘snapback’ sanctions as per the original nuclear treaty signed back in 2015 being a distinct possibility. The consultations in Istanbul marked the first of its kind since an assault on Iran by Israel in mid-June. The Israeli onslaught, a 12-day clash with strategic strikes on crucial nuclear and military facilities, elicited a powerful response.
Following their dialogue at the Iranian consulate in Istanbul, the European diplomats were observed vacating the venue around 2:00 pm local time. Their departure came after they had spent several hours engaging in talks inside the consulate. The Israeli military operation not only claimed the lives of top-ranking officials and nuclear researchers but also resulted in the death of hundreds of civilians due to indiscriminate attacks on residential sectors.
This unexpected aggression also had significant diplomatic consequences, notably disrupting the nuclear deliberations between the United States and Iran that had commenced earlier in April. The ensuing events led the trilateral European alliance, colloquially termed the E3, to contemplate employing the ‘snapback mechanism’. This move would reactivate United Nations sanctions on Iran under the now-dormant 2015 nuclear agreement, potentially by the end of August.
The prerogative to initiate this mechanism will lapse in October, and Iran has vowed to respond if the E3 coalition proceeds with its activation. A European negotiator emphasized that standing idly by and doing nothing wasn’t an option for the E3 countries. He further stated that Iran would be duly advised during the summit about the impending closure of the ‘snapback’ period within the following few months.
This official remarked that European representatives were gearing up to engage this mechanism in case no compromise could be achieved. He urged Iran to exhibit transparent actions concerning its uranium enrichment and recommence its collaboration with the UN nuclear monitoring agency. This follows claims by the International Atomic Energy Agency that Iran has been enriching uranium well beyond the upper limit agreed upon in the 2015 deal, approaching weapon-grade levels.
Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister, Kazem Gharibabadi, intervened this week by arguing that initiating sanctions would be ‘completely unlawful’. He further charged the European nations with retreating from their obligations under the agreement, especially after the United States’ decision to withdraw unilaterally in 2018.
Iranian diplomats have, in the past, cautioned that Iran might consider exiting the worldwide nuclear non-proliferation pact if UN sanctions are imposed again. Such a move to reimpose penalties would undoubtedly exacerbate Iran’s global alienation and put an additional strain on its already struggling economy.
The incident on June 13, when Israel executed an attack on Iran, originated merely a couple of days prior to the scheduled meeting for the sixth round of nuclear discussions between Tehran and Washington. Subsequently, on June 22, the United States allied with Israel’s effort by launching air strikes against Iran’s nuclear facilities located at Fordo, Isfahan, and Natanz.
Prior to the conflict, tensions between Washington and Tehran were primarily focused around the topic of uranium enrichment. Iran has asserted its position as a ‘non-negotiable’ right to this process, while the United States has labeled it a ‘boundary line’. Nonetheless, Tehran voiced its willingness to engage in dialogue concerning the extent and pace of enrichment, though it would not debate its fundamental right to perform such atomic processes.
After the United States decided to retreat from the nuclear pact, Iran reciprocated a year later by deciding to gradually renounce the obligations it had under the agreement. These had formerly imposed constraints on its nuclear activities in exchange for respite from sanctions. Iran firmly reiterated its determination to continue its nuclear pursuits, fervently emphasizing its unwavering stance towards continuing uranium enrichment.
Regardless of any potential attacks in the future, Iran has assured that it would respond with robust retaliation. This declaration forms the backbone of their foreign policy stance under these testing circumstances.
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