The West Gives Iran a Deadline: Serious Consequences If Nuclear Agreement Not Signed

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and the foreign ministers of France, Germany, and the United Kingdom have agreed during a phone conversation to set the end of August as the deadline to reach an agreement with Iran on the nuclear deal, Axios reports citing sources.

“If an agreement is not reached by that time, the three European powers plan to activate the ‘snapback’ mechanism of UN Security Council sanctions, which were lifted under the 2015 agreement with Iran,” the statement said.

According to sources, the Europeans intend to start negotiations with Iran in the near future and try to convince Tehran that it can avoid sanctions. However, for that, the Islamic Republic must take steps to prove the peaceful nature of its nuclear program.

In particular, this involves the resumption of monitoring by the IAEA, which Iran suspended after attacks on its nuclear facilities by Israel and the United States, as well as the removal of about 400 kg of uranium enriched up to 60% that is under Tehran's control.

Axios clarifies that the administration of former President Donald Trump is trying to resume negotiations with the Islamic Republic regarding the nuclear agreement. At the same time, the White House is frustrated that Iran has still not returned to the negotiating table.