France, Germany and UK trigger UN Sanctions on Iran

The UK, France and Germany have formally notified the UN that they have triggered the restoration of sweeping UN sanctions against Iran, giving Tehran 30 days to make concessions on access to its nuclear sites or face deeper worldwide economic isolation.

- Patrick Wintour

UK officials said the decision had not been taken lightly and there had been intensive diplomacy to try to avert this step. They emphasised there was still room for last-ditch diplomacy before the sanctions "snapback" comes into force in 30 days. The annual high-level UN general assembly in September is likely to involve more intensive diplomacy over the situation with Iran.

Officials added that Iran had been breaching the terms of the 2015 nuclear deal since 2019, and that it had been given ample opportunity to comply but had been unwilling or unable to act.

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) left Iran after Israel bombed its key nuclear sites, and has been unable to renegotiate a return to assess the state of those sites. Iran has allowed the IAEA inspectors to visit the Bushehr site, where refuelling is due to occur.

David Lammy, the UK foreign secretary, told the Iranian foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi, of the decision by the three European countries in a call yesterday morning.

Lammy said: "Despite repeated warnings, Iran has made no substantive effort to meet the conditions of our extension offer and has consistently failed to provide credible assurances on the nature of its nuclear programme.