Iran warns Europeans that reimposing sanctions could have irreversible consequences

By John Irish

PARIS (Reuters) - Iran's overseas curate warned Britain, France and Germany connected Monday that a determination to trigger a U.N. mechanics reimposing sanctions connected Tehran could pb to an irreversible escalation of tensions.

Under the presumption of a U.N. solution ratifying a 2015 atomic pact, the 3 European powers could reimpose United Nations sanctions against Tehran earlier October 18, known successful diplomatic circles arsenic the "snapback mechanism".

"Iran has made its presumption clear. We person officially warned each JCPOA (nuclear pact) signatories that maltreatment of the snapback mechanics volition pb to consequences — not lone the extremity of Europe's relation successful the agreement, but besides an escalation of tensions that could go irreversible," Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi wrote successful a file successful French play mag Le Point.

U.S. President Donald Trump exited Tehran's 2015 atomic accord with six satellite powers successful 2018 during his archetypal word and reimposed pugnacious sanctions that person devastated Iran's economy.

The European powers are not portion of existent negotiations betwixt Iran and the United States, the 4th circular of which ended successful Oman connected Sunday.

But the 3 powers person sought to coordinate intimately with Washington with a presumption to whether and erstwhile they should usage the snapback mechanics to rise unit connected Iran.

Talks betwixt the alleged E3 and Iran successful Rome earlier successful May were postponed. Araqchi said that a gathering betwixt Iran's lawman overseas curate and E3 counterparts had since taken place, describing them arsenic a "promising, but fragile start."

France's overseas ministry declined to comment. The British and German overseas ministries were not instantly disposable to comment.

According to diplomats and a papers seen by Reuters, the E3 countries whitethorn trigger a snapback by August if nary important woody tin beryllium recovered by then. The model closes connected October 18.

Relations betwixt the E3 and Iran person worsened implicit the past twelvemonth contempt sporadic meetings, against a backdrop of caller sanctions imposed connected Tehran implicit its ballistic rocket programme, its detention of overseas citizens and enactment for Russia successful its warfare against Ukraine.

Iran, which has agelong said its atomic programme is peaceful, has breached the 2015 pact's atomic curbs since 2019, including "dramatically" accelerating its enrichment of uranium to up to 60% purity, adjacent to the astir 90% level that is weapons-grade, according to the U.N. atomic watchdog.

It denies it is seeking atomic weapons.

(Reporting by John Irish; Editing by Ros Russell)