Iran: E3 Moves to Snapback Sanctions, Russia and China Push Counter Draft

Inside Iran’s nuclear facilities, where enrichment advances have triggered new global tensions. The E3 move at the UN sets the stage for sanctions to snap back by late September.

By: ATN News

UNHQ, New York:  —France, Germany, and the United Kingdom have formally notified the United Nations Security Council that Iran is in “significant non-performance” of its nuclear commitments, triggering the snapback mechanism under Resolution 2231. The move, laid out in a joint letter sent to Secretary-General António Guterres and Council President Eloy Alfaro de Alba, sets in motion a 30-day countdown that could see the full return of pre-2015 UN sanctions on Tehran.

The E3 letter accuses Iran of breaching the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPoA) and announces the decision to invoke the snapback mechanism “based on clear factual evidence.” Under Resolution 2231, unless the Security Council adopts a resolution within 30 days to continue sanctions relief, all previous UN sanctions will automatically be reimposed.

Russia and China’s Countermove

Moscow and Beijing have responded by circulating a draft resolution calling for a “technical extension” of the timeline, a maneuver aimed at delaying or derailing the automatic reimposition of sanctions. Diplomats say the draft is unlikely to survive a U.S. or E3 veto, but its circulation underscores the sharp divide among permanent Council members.

“This is about buying time and challenging the automaticity of the snapback process,” one Western envoy said. “But the mechanics of resolution 2231 are clear — unless a resolution is adopted, sanctions return by default.”

What Happens Next

The clock officially started on August 28, when France, Germany, and the UK lodged their snapback notification at the United Nations. Over the next two to three weeks, the Security Council will be consumed with debates behind closed doors. Russia and China are expected to rally support for their “technical extension” draft resolution, a move designed to buy more time and blunt the E3 initiative.

By mid-September, that draft could be brought to a vote. But Washington and the Europeans have already made their position clear: any attempt to block or delay the snapback will be vetoed.

That means by September 27, unless every single member of the Council agrees to extend sanctions relief — a highly unlikely scenario — the world reverts to the full slate of pre-2015 measures. Those include an arms embargo, strict limits on ballistic missile activity, asset freezes, and broad financial restrictions that will once again cut Iran off from global markets.

Stakes for the Region

The implications are serious. Reinstating the sanctions would further isolate Iran at a moment when its nuclear program is already advancing beyond agreed limits. Diplomats warn that Tehran is unlikely to take the decision quietly: it may accelerate uranium enrichment even further or shut the door on UN inspectors. Either step would heighten mistrust, deepen the standoff, and risk pushing the Middle East closer to open confrontation.