A bipartisan group of US lawmakers is urging European allies to reinstate stringent United Nations sanctions against Iran, citing repeated breaches of the 2015 nuclear agreement. The resolution, spearheaded by Senator Pete Ricketts (R-Neb.), calls upon the UK, France, and Germany to immediately invoke "snapback" sanctions through the UN Security Council, mirroring the "maximum pressure" campaign initiated by the Trump administration.
Senator Ricketts emphasized Iran's status as a leading state sponsor of terrorism and the threat posed by its nuclear ambitions, stating that a nuclear-armed Iran would jeopardize both American and allied security. The resolution has garnered support from 11 cosponsors in the Senate.
Companion legislation has been introduced in the House by Representatives Claudia Tenney (R-N.Y.) and Josh Gottheimer (D-N.J.). The lawmakers argue that the 2015 Iran nuclear deal, formally known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), allowed Iran to circumvent sanctions while failing to prevent its pursuit of nuclear weapons. Iran's subsequent restriction of independent inspections and resumption of nuclear activities are cited as key violations.
The JCPOA includes a "snapback" mechanism enabling signatory nations (China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom, the US, and Germany) to reinstate sanctions. While the Trump administration withdrew from the JCPOA and implemented its own sanctions, the Biden administration explored a return to the agreement, but these efforts ultimately stalled. Representative Tenney is advocating for the European nations to activate the snapback mechanism before the JCPOA's expiration in October 2025.
Concerns over Iran's uranium enrichment program have been heightened by reports from the UN nuclear watchdog, Rafael Grossi, indicating enrichment levels approaching weapons-grade. Western nations maintain that there is no legitimate civilian application for uranium enriched to 60%.
In December, Britain, France, and Germany expressed their willingness to trigger the snapback sanctions if deemed necessary. Former President Trump, who initially reinstated the "maximum pressure" campaign, expressed ambivalence about the sanctions while emphasizing the importance of preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons. He also advocated for a peaceful resolution through a "verified nuclear peace agreement."
However, Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, rejected negotiations with the US, citing past experiences, and called for strengthening Iran's military capabilities, signaling a further escalation of tensions.
