Overview

• Germany, France and the UK told UN Secretary-General António Guterres they are prepared to activate the snapback mechanism by the end of August unless Tehran agrees to new nuclear constraints.
• Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghtschi said Iran is coordinating with China and Russia to stop any renewed sanctions and has undisclosed measures to retaliate.
• The snapback option, which can reimpose sanctions lifted under the 2015 nuclear accord, is slated to expire in October, adding urgency to stalled talks.
• Negotiators resumed discussions at the end of July, but have made little progress on limits for uranium enrichment and inspector access since June’s Israel-Iran clashes.
• Iranian suggestions of a possible withdrawal from the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty heighten global non-proliferation concerns if diplomacy fails.