Appointing special envoy could help forestall snapback of UN sanctions
By Jalal Sadatian
Ex-Iranian ambassador to London
A move by the three European parties to the 2015 Iran nuclear deal (JCPOA) – France, Britan and Germany (E3) – to initiate the process of activating the snapback of UN sanctions on Iran is both unethical and unlawful, since none of their commitments under the accord have been met. At a time when pressure on Iran from US President Donald Trump and the Israeli regime was mounting, the E3 chose to fall back on only one part of the JCPOA namely the snapback mechanism.
Following Washington’s withdrawal from the deal in 2018, Europeans claimed they were under US pressure and threats, stressing that their companies—because of deep ties with American firms—could not maintain economic cooperation with Iran, while European governments lacked the power to force through such collaboration.
Europe later put forward the INSTEX mechanism as a substitute for its commitments—essentially a version of “oil for food” once imposed on Iraq back in 1990s. Iran rejected this outright and adopted reciprocal measures, including enrichment at 20% and later 60%, the use of advanced centrifuges, curbs on inspections, and taking down surveillance cameras of the UN nuclear watchdog (IAEA).
During Trump’s first term, the E3 resisted US pressure to restore UN resolutions and stood by Iran. Yet over time, and particularly after the war in Ukraine, relations soured, creating deeper rifts between the E3 and Tehran. The debate over Iran’s alleged cooperation with Russia in Ukraine prompted the Europeans to take a tougher line, seeing Tehran as siding with Moscow against them.
As the E3 realized their legal window for “snapback” was closing by October 2025, they sent a letter to the UN Security Council this week, requesting activation. Russia and China objected, with Moscow formally asking the council to extend the JCPOA’s timeline by six months to allow diplomacy a chance. Whether such a proposal will be adopted is unclear, as US approval would be required.
Although Iran maintains that current US sanctions are far harsher than UN measures, the reinstatement of Security Council sanctions would still carry heavy political and psychological consequences, since all UN member states would be obliged to comply.
Page 2