Snapback mechanism: nuclear sanctions against Iran back into force

Almost ten years after the historical nuclear agreement with Iran, the UN sanctions against the country came back into force after failed negotiations. The deadline for an agreement between Tehran and its negotiating partners Germany, Great Britain and France took place on Sunday night at 2:01 a.m. Central European period.

The criminal measures that are now currently again include a general weapon embargo, a ban on further uranium enrichment as well as numerous sanctions against individuals and organizations for freezing funds. A weapon embargo means a ban to deliver weapons and equipment to the affected country. Iran had announced a harsh reaction in the event of reinstatement of the measures.

Germany had also promoted sanctions

Germany, France and Great Britain activated the so-called Snapback mechanism at the end of August. It served to be able to prove Iran again with previous sanctions if his obligations are not complied with in the context of the 2015 nuclear agreement. In addition to the United States, Russia and China, Europeans are co -signers of the deal, which is considered the milestone of diplomacy.

The contract provided for a limitation of Iranian uranium enrichment to a maximum of 3.67 percent and strict surveillance so that Tehran could not achieve any atomic bomb. In return, sanctions should be canceled.

US President Donald Trump was the contract, which had been negotiated under his predecessor Barack Obama, a thorn in the side. In 2018, Trump unilaterally terminated the agreement. At the same time, he had new and harder sanctions imposed on Iran.

Happed loosening and an economic upswing failed to materialize. Since then, Tehran had increasingly disregarded his duties according to the agreement. In fact, it has not been implemented in fact for years. Tehran has therefore criticized the reintroduction of the sanctions as illegitimate. Negotiations failed.

Europeans warn Iran of escalation, USA promoting negotiations

Germany, Great Britain and France now warned Iran of an escalation of the nuclear dispute. “We emphasize Iran emphasis to refrain from any escalating measures and to stick back to its legally binding security measures,” said the Foreign Minister of Germany, France and the United Kingdom (E3) together at night. “The reintroduction of UN sanctions does not mean the end of diplomacy.”

The United States also promised Iran new negotiations. Foreign Minister Marco Rubio said that President Donald Trump had made it clear that diplomacy was still an option. “An agreement remains the best result for the Iranian people and the world.” In order for this to happen, Iran must accept direct conversations.

A few days ago, Iran’s top leader Ajatollah Ali Chamenei possible negotiations with the United States had cleared a clear cancellation and accused Trump of not wanting to have any real conversations.

Foreign Minister WadePhul: Beat new diplomatic chapter

Federal Foreign Minister Johann WadePhul had called Iran for new negotiations before the deadline. “With the snapback, a chapter of our diplomatic efforts ends,” said the CDU politician a few hours before the deadline in New York. He added: “Iran has the opportunity to open a new chapter of diplomacy. It is up to him to take the path to new conversations. We are ready for it.”

WadePhul continued to say that the formula of the Vienna nuclear agreement was simple: lifting sanctions against the restriction of the nuclear program. Iran had disregarded its obligations for years. “There is no plausible justification to enrich uranium to 60 percent. Iran is the only non-atomar-armed state in the world that has so highly enriched uranium.”

According to a report by the International Atomic Energy Agency IAEA, Iran had more than 400 kilograms of uranium with a purity degree of 60 percent before the State of Israeli War against the country in June. For the construction of nuclear weapons, a further enrichment to a purity level of more than 90 percent would be required. How much of the material and capacity of Iran after the serious attacks of the United States and Israel in June remains controversial.

Iranian opposition in exile welcomes measures

The Iranian opposition in exile describes the again in force that came into force as essential. This is the only way to prevent the “religious dictatorship” from “getting into the possession of an atomic bomb”, said the President of the National Resistance Council (NWRI) banned in Iran, Maryam Rajavi. She added: “The final solution is a change of regime by the Iranian people, and the right to resistance to the regime of terror and the massacre must be recognized.”

Iran’s reaction difficult to estimate

It is difficult to estimate how the upcoming establishment of the previous sanctions will have an impact. The Islamic Republic could go on a confrontation course and terminate an agreement to resume IAEA inspections.

Further possible escalation steps would be an exit from the nuclear weapon blocking contract or even the announcement to build an atomic bomb. Israel, the United States and European countries, accuse the country of striving for nuclear weapons. The Iranian leadership rejects this and also refers to a religious legal opinion by head of state Ajatollah Ali Chamenei, according to which weapons of mass destruction are prohibited.

Sanctions could increase the economic crisis in Iran

According to experts, sanctions should have limited economic consequences for Iran. The state of around 90 million inhabitants is already economically severely struggled due to US criminal measures. In addition, the procedure is another signal to companies worldwide that working with Iran can become delicate. However, many international companies have long been avoiding Iran out of worry about US criminal measures.

So far, Iran has already been proven with hard punitive measures, which aims primarily at the energy sector of the oil and gas-rich country. In addition, the country is largely excluded from international payments.