London,August 29(HS):

In a dramatic escalation of nuclear tensions, the UK, France and Germany have formally launched the process to reinstate United Nations sanctions on Iran, accusing Tehran of blatant non-compliance with the 2015 nuclear deal.

The move activates the so-called snapback mechanism, which could see the return of sweeping sanctions within 30 days. In a letter to the UN Security Council, the three European powers — collectively known as the E3 — said Iran had no civilian justification for its stockpile of highly enriched uranium and branded Tehran’s programme a clear threat to international peace and security.

Iran hit back, condemning the step as provocative and unnecessary, while insisting its nuclear activities are for civilian purposes only. In a counter-letter to the EU, Iran’s foreign minister rejected the legitimacy of the move, stressing that Russia and China backed Tehran’s position.

British Foreign Secretary David Lammy said the E3 had recently offered Iran a sanctions-relief extension tied to compliance, but Tehran had failed to provide any credible assurances. The US welcomed the snapback action, vowing to work with European allies while reiterating readiness for direct engagement with Iran to pursue a peaceful resolution.

The original 2015 agreement, designed to curtail Iran’s nuclear activities in exchange for sanctions relief, collapsed after Donald Trump withdrew the US in 2018 and reimposed sanctions. Since then, Iran has steadily escalated enrichment, deepening Western fears it is edging closer to weapons capability.

With the countdown now set, the Security Council has 30 days to decide whether sanctions relief will continue — or whether crippling economic measures will once again come crashing down on Iran.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar