Ex-Iran envoy says deal with US alone won’t prevent snapback sanctions

Former Iranian ambassador to the United Kingdom Jalal Sadatian warned on Thursday that even if Tehran reaches a nuclear agreement with the United States, United Nations sanctions could still be reinstated if relations with European powers do not improve.

“Even with an agreement with the US, if our relations with Europe don’t improve, they may move toward using the snapback mechanism,” Sadatian said.

Under the 2015 nuclear accord—formally known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA)—any party to the deal can trigger a restoration of UN sanctions if it believes Iran is not complying with the agreement. Once triggered, sanctions that were previously lifted automatically snap back into place after 30 days unless all five permanent members of the UN Security Council vote to extend the suspension.

Such a move could take place before key provisions of the 2015 deal expire in October.

Sadatian urged renewed talks with all original JCPOA participants—the P5+1 group including China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom, the United States, and Germany—warning that limiting engagement to the US alone could fuel European mistrust.

“In matters where there is a common concern—like the nuclear file—we should aim for broader negotiations that include both the US and Europe,” he said. “This would help ease suspicion on both sides and reduce tensions at the IAEA Board of Governors.”