Agency Report –
New York – Talks are planned between Germany, France, Britain and Iran on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in a bid to avert sanctions over Tehran’s nuclear programme, according to German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul on Tuesday.
The plan is to explore “last ditch options,” Wadephul told journalists, adding he has little hope that the talks with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi would resolve the situation.
“It must be clear to everyone that, after all of Iran’s delaying tactics, the possibilities and chances of reaching a diplomatic solution before the sanctions are triggered are extremely slim,” Wadephul said.
He was referring to the long-running attempts to prevent Iran from enriching uranium, amid fears Tehran is pursuing nuclear weapons.
Iran says its nuclear programme is solely for civilian purposes.
Germany, France and Britain, known collectively as the E3 states, triggered a “snapback” sanctions mechanism last month, accusing Iran of serious breaches of the landmark 2015 Vienna nuclear accord, pointing to uranium enrichment far beyond levels needed for civilian purposes.
“Iran has been disregarding its obligations under the Vienna nuclear agreement for years,” Wadephul said. “We have drawn the necessary conclusions from this and triggered the so-called snapback mechanism, which will reinstate international sanctions against Iran at the end of this week.”
One thing is clear: Iran must never be allowed to acquire a nuclear weapon, Wadephul said.
However, even if sanctions are reinstated, this does not mean the end of diplomacy. The E3 remain open to negotiations even after sanctions come into force, he said.
“Iran must understand that we expect concrete, verifiable and credible measures from it that demonstrate its permanent renunciation of nuclear weapons,” Wadephul said.
A deal made in 2015 sought to restrain Iran from developing a nuclear weapon. The Vienna deal was seen as a diplomatic milestone, but the US left it unilaterally during President Donald Trump’s first term.
Nuclear talks resumed with Iran earlier this year but stalled. Last week, the United Nations Security Council voted against a resolution aimed at ensuring that Iran would continue to be spared sanctions, making their resumption more likely.
That means it is highly likely that the sanctions are to be imposed on Iran on September 28, as they were from 2006 to 2010.
Renewed sanctions could severely impact the Iranian economy, already reeling from US and other sanctions. Companies around the world could reconsider dealings with Tehran for fear of retaliation from the Western powers.
The country’s energy sector is already hit by sanctions, and Iran is largely excluded from the international payments system.
Observers believe Tehran could retaliate by restricting the work of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), withdrawing from the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty or even announcing that it will go ahead with building a nuclear weapon.
Before the June war with Israel and the US bombing of Iranian nuclear facilities, the IAEA reported that Iran had more than 400 kilograms of uranium enriched to 60%, far beyond civilian needs. Some 90% is required for a nuclear weapon.
By Jörg Blank
