American Jewish Committee Welcomes E3 Nations Move to Trigger Snapback Sanctions on Iran

American Jewish Committee (AJC) welcomes today's announcement that the E3 countries - France, Germany, and the United Kingdom - will trigger snapback sanctions at the UN Security Council against the Islamic Republic of Iran for violating international agreements tied to its nuclear program.

The Iranian regime has repeatedly shirked its commitment to limit uranium enrichment and allow inspections of its program in return for sanctions relief, under the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA). In a letter last week to the UN Security Council, the E3 said Iran has violated the "near entirety" of the JCPOA. They have now initiated a process to effectively reimpose UN sanctions in 30 days.

AJC has long advocated for the reimposition of UN sanctions in response to Tehran's repeated violations of its commitments. Last month, AJC urged the foreign ministers of France, Germany, and the United Kingdom, as well as the European Union's High Representative, to trigger these snapback sanctions.

"This is an important step toward holding the Iranian regime accountable for its repeated violations of its nuclear obligations and its continued dangerous actions," said AJC CEO Ted Deutch. "Iran has moved ever closer to developing a nuclear weapon, which poses an existential threat not only to all of Europe but to Israel and the Middle East. This should never be acceptable."

Once the snapback mechanism is triggered, UN Security Council member states or the Council's chair have 30 days to introduce a resolution aimed at reversing it and establishing new conditions and commitments, which would then be subject to a vote. If such a resolution is vetoed, sanctions will be automatically reimposed at the end of the 30-day period.

"The 30-day period before sanctions reimplementation provides another opportunity for a diplomatic solution," Deutch said. "But the Iranian regime has violated the JCPOA time and again while repeatedly threatening the U.S. and Europe. The sanctions may be the only way to convey to Iran that enough is enough."

AJC is the global advocacy organization for the Jewish people. With headquarters in New York, 25 regional offices across the United States, 15 overseas posts, as well as partnerships with 38 Jewish community organizations worldwide, AJC's mission is to enhance the well-being of the Jewish people and Israel and to advance human rights and democratic values in the United States and around the world. For more, please visit www.ajc.org .