E3 Supports Iranian Arms Embargo, Warns Against Snapback Sanctions

The United Kingdom, France and Germany suggested they would support a continued arms embargo against Iran but opposed U.S. threats of snapback sanctions. The scheduled expiration of the embargo would have “major implications for regional security and stability,” the countries said in a June 19 statement, adding that they plan to discuss the matter with Russia or China. But the three nations rejected U.S. threats to invoke snapback sanctions under the Iran nuclear deal if the embargo is not extended (see 2006090047). “Any unilateral attempt to trigger [United Nations] sanctions snapback would have serious adverse consequences in the UN [Security Council],” they said.

The countries criticized the U.S.’s maximum pressure campaign against Iran, saying that sanctions will not lead to a solution. They also said they remain “committed” to the Iran deal despite triggering the agreement’s dispute resolution mechanism earlier this year, which could lead to snapback sanctions (see 2001140020). “[W]e continue to believe that the strategy of maximum pressure will not effectively serve this goal,” the statement said, “and instead remain committed to holding Iran to account, while pursuing meaningful diplomacy and dialogue.”