At a critical United Nations Security Council meeting on June 24, representatives from Western powers, including the United States, Britain, France, and Germany, reiterated their determination to prevent the clerical regime in Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons. Central to their strategy is the potential activation of the snapback mechanism under UN Security Council Resolution 2231, which could reimpose comprehensive sanctions on Iran.
The snapback mechanism, part of the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPoA), allows any participant in the deal to unilaterally reimpose all UN sanctions on the regime if it is believed that Tehran is violating the agreement. This provision remains in effect until October 2025.
Barbara Woodward, the British UN envoy, underscored the gravity of the situation, stating, “In October next year, this resolution must expire, and with it, the right to reimpose UN sanctions on Iran. Given Iran’s dangerous advances that have brought it to the brink of capacity to develop a weapon, this situation should be of great concern to this Council.” She further emphasized, “We will continue to keep all diplomatic options on the table, including triggering a UN rollback before October 2025, if necessary.”
US envoy Robert Wood echoed these concerns, highlighting the regime’s opaque nuclear activities. “The United States is prepared to use any means necessary to prevent a nuclear-armed Iran,” Wood stated. He criticized Tehran for obstructing the International Atomic Energy Agency’s (IAEA) efforts to monitor its nuclear program and failing to provide transparency. “Iran’s actions suggest that it is not interested in verifiably demonstrating that its nuclear program is exclusively peaceful,” he added.
Reports from the Institute for Science and International Security and the Washington Post have indicated that Iran is preparing to significantly increase its uranium enrichment capacity at the Fordow facility. This development follows a formal reprimand by IAEA member states on June 5, urging the clerical dictatorship to enhance cooperation and lift its ban on inspectors.
The regime’s nuclear dossier must be referred to the UN Security Council as soon as possible, and the six UNSC resolutions should be reinstated by the trigger mechanism, which should have been done a long time ago#Iran#JCPOA pic.twitter.com/9SK0sAe9LD
— Maryam Rajavi (@Maryam_Rajavi) September 14, 2022
Nicolas de Rivière, France’s UN envoy, emphasized the regime’s repeated violations of its commitments in recent years. He referenced recent IAEA reports and the increasing levels of enriched uranium, calling Tehran’s breaches deeply concerning. De Rivière pointed out that the current level of Iran’s uranium enrichment lacks a credible civilian and peaceful justification and along with his British counterpart, stressed the importance of activating the snapback mechanism.
Thomas Zahneisen, Germany’s deputy UN envoy, highlighted Tehran’s uranium enrichment at levels 30 times higher than those stipulated in the JCPoA. He described this level of enrichment as a significant obstacle in negotiations with Tehran and warned about Iran’s non-cooperation with the IAEA. Zahneisen reiterated that the regime must allow experienced IAEA inspectors to return and continue their activities.
Activating the snapback mechanism would automatically restore all previous UN sanctions against the regime, a move that could have significant geopolitical and economic implications. This includes restrictions on Iran’s oil exports, financial transactions, and other critical sectors. The mechanism was designed as a deterrent to ensure Tehran’s compliance with the nuclear deal.