The Iran deal is dead: After US sanctions snapback, other members won't admit it
The Iran deal is dead: After US sanctions snapback, other members won’t admit it
Following the unilateral decision of the US to pull out of the Iran nuclear deal, other parties to the agreement have insisted the deal is still intact. But the deal is dead, and the P4+1 have failed to admit this.
On August 20, at a United Nations Security Council (UNSC) meeting, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo triggered the UN snapback sanctions on Iran.
However, other Iran deal participants have verbally opposed the US position and argue that the snapback mechanism cannot be triggered by the US as it would be a breach of international law.
Consequently, some have claimed that US President Donald Trump’s administration is diplomatically “isolated.”
However, there are clear indications that demonstrate that the group is known as the P4+1 – Germany, France, the UK, China, and Russia – cannot legally challenge the US on the issue, and in practice, they will have to accept the Trump administration’s decision.
Triggering snapback sanctions came after the UNSC did not extend an arms embargo on Tehran on August 14.
According to UNSC resolution 2231 adopted in 2015, those who oppose the decision would have 30 days after the US triggered the snapback to put forth an opposition proposal So far, no one has done this.
As of September 20, all related UN sanctions, including the indefinite arms embargo, the complete ban on uranium enrichment, and Iran’s ballistic missile program are fully enforced.
Furthermore, as an extra measure, in case any company or state fails to accept the US position, Trump’s administration has already announced they will place secondary sanctions on anyone who violates the arms embargo against Iran or do business with Tehran.
US President Donald Trump signs an executive order on Iran sanctions in the Oval Office of the White House on June 24, 2019. (AFP)
