The United Kingdom, France, and Germany have issued a stern warning to Iran, urging the nation to de-escalate the current situation and pursue diplomatic negotiations following the reinstatement of UN sanctions. The three European powers stated they had “no choice” but to reintroduce these significant measures against Tehran due to its “continued nuclear escalation” and a persistent lack of cooperation with international bodies.
In a joint statement, the foreign ministers of these European nations, collectively known as the E3, emphasized that the reimposition of sanctions is not the end of diplomatic efforts. They urged Iran to refrain from any actions that could further escalate tensions.
The sanctions, which were originally lifted a decade ago as part of a landmark international agreement on Iran’s nuclear program, are now back in effect. This move comes after Iran increased its nuclear activities, a decision that followed the United States’ withdrawal from the deal in 2016. Attempts to prevent the full reimposition of these sanctions, made during recent international gatherings, were unsuccessful.
President Masoud Pezeshkian of Iran had previously asserted that the country has no intention of developing nuclear weapons and strongly condemned the renewed sanctions as unfair and illegal. While Iran has engaged in talks with the IAEA regarding its nuclear sites, it has also cautioned that the return of sanctions jeopardizes these discussions. Despite earlier threats, President Pezeshkian has since stated Iran’s commitment to the Non-Proliferation Treaty.
However, he also indicated that Iran would require assurances against potential attacks on its nuclear facilities by Israel to normalize its nuclear enrichment program. Furthermore, President Pezeshkian rejected a US proposal to transfer Iran’s enriched uranium stockpile in exchange for a temporary sanctions exemption, questioning the wisdom of entering into such an agreement.
In response to these developments, Iran announced on Saturday that it is recalling its ambassadors to the UK, France, and Germany for consultations.