Macron says "snapback" of UN sanctions on Iran is done deal
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Macron holds a press conference. Photo: Michel Euler/Pool via Getty Images
French President Emmanuel Macron said Thursday that "snapback" sanctions against Iran will be triggered at the end of September.
Why it matters: Macron's comments in an interview with Israel's Channel 12 signal that efforts to reach a deal between the European powers and Iran have failed. Iran will face even greater economic harm, and international monitors will have virtually no oversight of Iran's nuclear material and facilities.
What's next: The UN Security Council is expected to vote next week on restoring UN sanctions against Iran, which could be reimposed by Sep. 27.
- The Iranians have threatened to withdraw from the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) in response, but European diplomats think they won't go that far.
Catch up quick: The "snapback" mechanism automatically reimposes all UN Security Council sanctions that were lifted under the 2015 Iran nuclear deal.
- Iran argues that it never received the full benefits of that deal, from which the U.S. withdrew in 2018, and that it's illegitimate to impose punishments for noncompliance.
- Iranian officials have also scoffed at the demand that they return to nuclear talks with the Trump administration, given they were doing so right up until Israel and the U.S. bombed them.
What he's saying: When asked by Channel 12's Yonit Levy if "snapback" was a done deal Macron said: "Yes, I think so. Because the latest news we have from the Iranians are not serious."
- Macron added that Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi "tried to make a reasonable offer" to reach a deal with the European powers, but didn't get support from other members of the Iranian government.
Behind the scenes: Earlier this week, Iran sent the E3 — France, Germany and the U.K. — a new proposal to extend the snapback deadline by several months in return for Iranian steps on its nuclear program and the resumption of negotiations with the U.S.
- "The E3 regard Iran's latest proposal as insufficient in substance as it demands far-reaching actions like extension of the snapback or even complete termination in exchange for Iranian declarations of intent, but without any concrete actions on the Iranian side," a source familiar with the proposal told reporters in a briefing on Thursday.
- The source said the E3 "remain dedicated to diplomacy and ready to engage with Iran at any time, including in New York next week."
