European officials have delivered a stark message to Iran, stating that Tehran has yet to undertake the necessary measures to avert the ‘snapback’ of United Nations sanctions related to its nuclear program. The warning highlights a rapidly shrinking window for a diplomatic resolution.
These firm statements from the German Foreign Ministry and the European Union followed a recent high-level call on September 17, 2025. During this call, Iran engaged with representatives from France, Germany, the United Kingdom, and the EU’s top diplomat, Kaja Kallas.
Kallas explicitly cautioned that “The window for finding a diplomatic solution on Iran’s nuclear issue is closing really fast.” She emphasized that “Iran must show credible steps towards addressing the demands of France, the U.K. and Germany, and this means demonstrating full cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency and allowing inspections of all nuclear sites without delay.”
Echoing this sentiment, the German Foreign Ministry posted on X (formerly Twitter) that “Iran has yet to take the reasonable and precise actions necessary to” stop the re-imposition of UN sanctions.
Hours later, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi reiterated Iran’s stance, asserting that the re-imposition of UN sanctions would be “lacking any legal or logical justification.” He referenced an earlier agreement between Iran and the IAEA, mediated by Egypt, designed to grant the UN watchdog access to all Iranian nuclear sites and for Tehran to report on its nuclear material. However, the exact timeline for this crucial report remains ambiguous, and Araghchi’s statement did not present alternative pathways to alleviate European concerns.
“It is now up to the other parties to seize this opportunity to keep the diplomatic path open and avert an avoidable crisis, showing seriousness and belief in diplomacy,” Araghchi concluded.
This diplomatic tension follows a 12-day conflict in June where Israel launched military action against Iran, with both Israeli and American forces targeting Iranian nuclear sites. This conflict raised significant questions about the status of Tehran’s uranium stockpile, which is enriched to near weapons-grade levels.
The ‘snapback’ mechanism, a provision in Iran’s 2015 nuclear deal with world powers, was specifically designed to allow for the re-implementation of sanctions without the possibility of a UN veto. If activated by the end of September (unless the UN Security Council intervenes), it would lead to a freezing of Iranian assets abroad, a halt to arms deals with Tehran, and penalties against any advancements in Iran’s ballistic missile program. These measures would further strain the country’s already struggling economy.
The potential activation of the ‘snapback’ is expected to escalate tensions between Iran and Western nations, particularly in a Middle East already volatile due to the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict in the Gaza Strip, and more specifically, Israel’s ground offensive targeting Gaza City.