Russia Drafts UNSC Resolution To Block Sanctions ‘Snapback’ Against Iran

Latest Developments

Russia Circulates Draft To Block Renewed Sanctions on Iran: Russia has reportedly drafted a UN Security Council (UNSC) resolution that would delay the decision to reimpose sanctions on Iran under the “snapback” mechanism by six months. The text proposes a technical extension of UNSC Resolution 2231 — which endorsed the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, also known as the Iran nuclear deal — until April 2026, instead of its current deadline of October 18. According to the French mission to the United Nations, “the Russian resolution was circulated, but not put in blue yet.”
No Breakthroughs in Latest Talks: No breakthroughs were achieved in the latest talks between Iran and the deputy foreign ministers of the E3 — France, Germany, and the United Kingdom — in Geneva on August 26, as the August 31 deadline for a decision on the implementation of snapback approaches. Sources told journalists from multiple news outlets that Iranian officials did not “put tangible detailed deliverables on the table,” continuing the stalemate. The E3 has sought to obtain Iran’s agreement to restore nuclear monitoring by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), address missing stockpiles of highly enriched uranium, and engage the United States in talks to limit the nuclear program, but Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has characterized the outstanding differences as “unsolvable.” “They want Iran to be obedient to America. The Iranian nation will stand with all of its power against those who have such erroneous expectations,” Khamenei said.
IAEA Inspectors Reportedly Back Inside Iran: The head of the IAEA, Rafael Grossi, told Fox News that inspectors had returned to Iran after Tehran ejected them following extensive Israeli and U.S. airstrikes on its nuclear facilities in June. It remains unclear which sites the regime will permit the agency to inspect or whether it will have access to destroyed sites or hidden enriched uranium stockpiles, as required by Iran’s IAEA safeguards agreement. Meanwhile, the Iranian parliament pressured the Foreign Ministry and Iran’s Atomic Energy Organization to implement legislation halting cooperation with the IAEA and block inspectors from nuclear sites.

FDD Expert Response

“President Donald Trump has the opportunity to deal the 2015 Iran nuclear deal a final blow by restoring key lapsed or expiring international restrictions on Iran’s nuclear, missile, arms, and proliferation activities. He should urge the E3 to reject Tehran’s hollow offers and trigger the snapback of sanctions by the end of this month. Importantly, these sanctions would restore the standard of zero enrichment in Iran. They would also ban nuclear, missile, and military trade with the regime to prevent it from rebuilding its atomic weapons pathway, arming Russia, testing missiles, and supporting terrorist proxies.” — Andrea Stricker, Nonproliferation and Biodefense Program Deputy Director and Research Fellow

“Iran is hurtling toward the consequences of repeatedly lying to the international community about its nuclear program. Following military strikes by Israel and the United States, Iran fears that allowing international inspectors to do their jobs will result in the discovery of additional details about how far Tehran has pursued nuclear enrichment, weaponization, and missile technology applicable to a delivery vehicle for a nuclear warhead. Iran has provided the E3 with scant assurances to avoid full sanctions enforcement that will deepen its economic and diplomatic isolation.” — Tyler Stapleton, Director of Congressional Relations, FDD Action

“There is no good reason to entertain Russia’s convoluted draft resolution to extend the deadline for snapback given the clear international consensus that Iran cannot reconstitute its pursuit of a nuclear weapon. The reimplementation of sanctions should move forward without delay.” — Richard Goldberg, FDD Senior Advisor