US, European allies seek talks after curbs on Iran

The US and European powers urged Iran to return to the negotiation table and comply with nuclear inspectors, renewing efforts to engage in diplomacy with Iran after United Nations sanctions snapped back into place.

- Bloomberg

A man rides his motorcycle in Tehran, Iran on Saturday.

(AFP)

US secretary of state Marco Rubio said a deal remains the best outcome for Iran, and absent one, countries should implement sanctions immediately. UN leaders had rejected a bid to extend the deadline for sanctions to snap back into place, meaning that penalties lifted as part of the 2015 accord went into effect early Sunday in Tehran.

“President Trump has been clear that diplomacy is still an option,” Rubio said. “For that to happen, Iran must accept direct talks, held in good faith, without stalling or obfuscation.”

In August, the UK, France and Germany triggered the so-called snapback mechanism —a vetoproof provision in the 2015 deal tocontrol Iran’s atomic activities — giving Tehran 30 days to comply toa set of demands or face the re-imposition of international sanctions on its economy and missile programme.