Overview

• On August 13, France, Germany and the UK sent a joint letter to the UN warning they will invoke the JCPOA’s snapback mechanism at the end of August unless Iran restores IAEA inspections and nuclear negotiations.
• The E3 accused Tehran of significant non-performance of JCPOA commitments, citing a uranium stockpile more than 40 times the 2015 limit and enrichment up to roughly 60 percent purity.
• European diplomats offered Iran a limited extension to resume direct talks with the United States, but they said Tehran has not responded to that proposal.
• Tehran’s foreign minister reported close coordination with Russia and China to prevent snapback measures, while hardline lawmakers threatened to exit the NPT and JCPOA within 24 hours if sanctions are reimposed.
• The snapback option must be exercised before key JCPOA provisions expire on October 18, raising the stakes for potential regional escalation and reciprocal Iranian countermeasures.