European Countries to Maintain Ballistic, Nuclear Sanctions on Iran

Iranian Foreign Minister Amir Hossein-Abdollahian (AP)
Iranian Foreign Minister Amir Hossein-Abdollahian (AP)
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European Countries to Maintain Ballistic, Nuclear Sanctions on Iran

Iranian Foreign Minister Amir Hossein-Abdollahian (AP)
Iranian Foreign Minister Amir Hossein-Abdollahian (AP)

Britain, France, and Germany have said they would retain ballistic missile and nuclear proliferation-related sanctions on Iran that were set to expire in October under the 2015 Iran nuclear deal.

The three European allies known as E3 announced in a statement, a copy of which was obtained by Asharq Al-Awsat, that they intend to maintain nuclear proliferation-related measures on Iran, as well as arms and missile embargoes, after Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPoA) Transition Day on October 18, 2023.

The deal's coordinator, EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell, said he had received a letter from the E3 informing him of their decision and transferred it to Iran, China, and Russia, the other participants.

"As Coordinator, I will consult with all JCPoA participants on the way ahead," Borrell said.

“They had registered their concerns that Iran was not meeting its commitments,” Borrell said on Thursday.

“They express their intent not to take the steps regarding the lifting of further sanctions on JCPOA transition day.”

Borrell indicated that he would consult with all parties to the nuclear agreement to agree on the next steps, demonstrating his continued commitment to fully re-implementing the atomic deal and “spare no effort” to achieve this.

- “No additional sanctions”

Although the three countries announced their intention to renew the sanctions, they were keen to stress that the decision does not amount to imposing additional sanctions on Iran or activating the mechanism to re-impose UN sanctions on it.

The statement indicated that the three countries remain committed to a diplomatic solution, but Iran must now take clear steps towards de-escalation.

“We are committed to preventing Iran from developing nuclear weapons,” read the statement.

The UK said Iran’s stockpile of enriched uranium was 18 times the limits set out in the JCPOA, and hundreds of advanced centrifuges had been built and deployed.

The three countries believed that Iran “twice missed” the opportunity to revive the nuclear agreement, and they remained committed to preventing Tehran from developing a nuclear weapon. Still, its stockpile of highly enriched uranium was at a level “beyond all credible civilian justification.”

- European-Iranian meetings in New York

A Western source told Asharq Al-Awsat that the step was “logical and expected,” noting that Iran’s nuclear program had exceeded all restrictions within the agreement.

A second European source told Asharq Al-Awsat that the UN General Assembly meetings in New York next week will witness side meetings between the European coordinator and his deputy with the Iranian delegation to discuss the next steps and try to reduce the escalation.

- Baerbock, Amir-Abdollahian phone call

German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock made a rare call with her Iranian counterpart, Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, according to the Iranian Foreign Ministry.

The two ministers discussed several issues of common interest and exchanged views on various topics, including issues of concern to Iran. The discussions were clear and straightforward.

Baerbock and Amir-Abdollahian met in February last year on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference. Baerbock informed her Iranian counterpart of the European countries’ intention to extend the sanctions.

Western countries refrained from escalating against Tehran within the Board of Governors of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) held this week in Vienna, mainly because the US refused to pass a resolution that increases pressure on Iran.



IAEA Chief Says Time Running Out to Reach Iran Nuclear Deal

 Rafael Grossi, Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), attends a joint media briefing with Director General of Russia's State Atomic Energy Corporation Rosatom following their talks in Moscow on February 7, 2025. (AFP)
Rafael Grossi, Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), attends a joint media briefing with Director General of Russia's State Atomic Energy Corporation Rosatom following their talks in Moscow on February 7, 2025. (AFP)
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IAEA Chief Says Time Running Out to Reach Iran Nuclear Deal

 Rafael Grossi, Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), attends a joint media briefing with Director General of Russia's State Atomic Energy Corporation Rosatom following their talks in Moscow on February 7, 2025. (AFP)
Rafael Grossi, Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), attends a joint media briefing with Director General of Russia's State Atomic Energy Corporation Rosatom following their talks in Moscow on February 7, 2025. (AFP)

Time is running out to secure an accord to rein in Iran's nuclear program as Tehran continues to accelerate its enrichment of uranium to near weapons grade, UN nuclear watchdog chief Rafael Grossi said on Friday.

Iran has stepped up nuclear work since 2019, after US President Donald Trump in his first term abandoned a 2015 agreement reached under predecessor Barack Obama.

With nuclear diplomacy stalled, the spotlight has turned on Trump and how he intends to handle the dossier.

So far there has been little clear policy on the issue, and Iran has continued to advance its nuclear program, accelerating enrichment of uranium to up to 60% purity, close to the roughly 90% of weapons grade.

"I think we are running out of time, but it doesn't mean that we can't do it fast," International Atomic Energy Agency chief Grossi said in an interview on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference.

"The IAEA is there and has all the information and elements, but when it comes to the policy it's up to the countries."

Grossi said Iran was in the process of increasing around sevenfold its monthly production of uranium enriched to up to 60%.

He said Iran would likely have about 250 kg of uranium enriched to up to 60% by the time of the agency's next report in the coming weeks.

That is enough in principle, if enriched further, for six nuclear bombs, according to an IAEA yardstick

"It's clearly a sign that should be taken very seriously. So this is why I believe that we shouldn't be wasting more time. I hope that we can refocus on Iran," he said.

IAEA 'EAGERLY' AWAITS ENVOY'S APPOINTMENT

Highlighting the challenges, Trump has yet to appoint a dedicated team or envoy to handle the Iran dossier, leaving allies, including Britain, France and Germany, who are part of the 2015 deal, unclear on how to proceed.

The European powers had hoped to convince Iran to begin negotiating new restrictions on its nuclear activities with a view to having a deal by the summer.

That would give enough time to implement new limits on Iran's program and lift sanctions before the 2015 accord expires in October 2025.

"We are eagerly waiting for a US envoy on Iran to be appointed so we can start exchanging views and seeing what the next steps will be," Grossi said. "We are in contact, but we haven't been able to have a political conversation with someone who is implementing the policies of the president."

At the request of the Europeans, the IAEA's 35-nation Board of Governors passed a resolution in November ordering Iran to urgently improve cooperation with the agency and requesting a "comprehensive" report by spring aimed at pressuring Iran into fresh nuclear talks.

Asked whether the report could be ready by the next board meeting in March, Grossi said there would be "very little added value" to what the agency had already reported and that it would be better once there had been some progress with Iran.

"It will come. It could be by March, but most likely a bit later," Grossi said.