Summary of the Article: “Snapback” Sanctions and the JCPOA
This article details the looming possibility of “snapback” sanctions being reimposed on Iran underโ the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA, or Iran nuclear deal). Here’s a breakdown of the key points:
What’s happening?
The E3 (France, Germany, and the โฃUK) are preparing to trigger the “snapback” mechanism within the JCPOA, due to Iran’s โcontinued breaches of the agreement. This would reinstate UN sanctionsโ that were lifted โunder the deal.
Iranโข disputes the E3’s legal authority to trigger the mechanism, โarguing they are in violation of the JCPOA by demanding Iran halt uranium โenrichment. They claim this invalidates theโฃ E3’s โstatus as parties to the deal.
Expertsโ disagree โwith Iran’s argument. Richard Nephew, a former US negotiator, states the E3โ remain parties to the deal โคas they didn’t โขwithdraw like the US, and there’s no mechanism โขto remove a participant.
Iran has threatened retaliation, including possibly withdrawing fromโ the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty โ(NPT).
last-ditch talks are scheduled for August โค28th between Iranian and European diplomats.
What is “Snapback”?
It’s a unique mechanism where sanctions automatically returnโข unlessโฃ the UN Security Council (UNSC) actively โvotes โฃto continue sanctions โrelief.
It’s designed to be difficult to block. Aโ veto from a permanent โคUNSC member (US, China,โ Russia, France, UK) prevents the โขresolution to continue sanctionsโข relief, โthusโ triggering the snapback.
China and โRussia are attempting to “stop” the process,but experts say this is not โlegally possible.they coudl argue the dealโค is defunct, but proving that is difficult.
What sanctionsโ would return?
Six UN โSecurity Council resolutions from 2006-2010 would be reinstated.
This includes:
A UN conventional armsโ embargo
Restrictions on ballistic missile activities
Asset freezes and travel bans
โ
Other proliferation-related rules
What would be the impact?
Iran downplays the impact, but experts believe it would be meaningful.
The biggest impact would be on Iran’s nuclear and missile programs. It would become illegal to trade in related materialsโข and technologies.
While the USโฃ already has extensive sanctions, UN sanctions carry more weight due to โฃtheir international legal backing.
โคthe article notes a contradiction in Iran’s stance: claiming the sanctions won’tโ hurt much while simultaneously threatening retaliation.
In essence, the article โhighlights a serious escalation in tensions surrounding the JCPOA, with the potential for significant consequences for Iran’s economy and nuclear program. The outcome hinges on the UNSC and whether the E3 successfully trigger the snapback โmechanism.
