The UK, France and Germany are planning to revive UN-backed sanctions on Iran over fears it is developing nuclear weapons.
The three European nations, known as the E3, are making the move after efforts to restart diplomatic talks over Tehran’s nuclear programme stalled.
Iran insists its nuclear programme is for peaceful purposes, but it has enriched uranium to levels exceeding that required for civil nuclear power.
This is a breach of a deal agreed with western nations in 2015, when a series of sanctions were suspended.
However, the E3 now wants to reimpose those sanctions, which were made by UN resolution.
They wrote to US secretary of state Marco Rubio informing him of their intent, and on Thursday afternoon notified the UN.
The UN security council will meet on Friday to discuss the move, it is understood.
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Before the sanctions are implemented, there will be a 30-day period when the UK, France and Germany hope talks can take place and Iran will agree to step back its nuclear ambitions.
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Mr Rubio welcomed the sanctions snapback and said the E3 have laid out a clear case of Iran’s continuing “significant non-performance” of its nuclear commitments.
He confirmed the US will work with the E3 and members of the UN security council to complete the reimposition of the sanctions, and said the US remains available for direct engagement with Iran.
The reimposition has not been met well by the Iranians, with a senior Iranian official telling Reuters the country will “not concede under pressure”.
They said diplomatic talks will continue with the E3 and Tehran will decide on Iran’s reciprocal measures if the sanctions are imposed.
The official said Iran had used “all its capacities” to dissuade the E3 from taking this step.
British foreign secretary David Lammy said the UK and its European allies have “negotiated in good faith” with Iran since 2019, but are now “left with no choice” but to reintroduce sanctions.
He said: “Iran’s nuclear programme remains a threat to global peace and security. Over the past six years, Iran has broken almost all limits in the JCPOA (Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action) and its stockpile of enriched uranium is 45-times over the JCPOA limit.
“Alongside our European allies, the UK has 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.”
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