• The E3 nations (Britain, France, and Germany) have triggered a 30-day process to reimpose UN sanctions on Iran.
• This decision follows accusations of Iran violating its 2015 nuclear deal commitments and a recent escalation in tensions due to Israeli strikes on Iranian sites.
• Iran's leadership has condemned the move as illegal and has vowed to respond appropriately, potentially impacting future diplomatic negotiations.
• The United States, while supporting the E3's decision, remains open to direct talks with Iran.
• Russia and China have criticized the sanctions process, calling it illegitimate and proposing an extension of the 2015 nuclear deal instead.

On August 28, Britain, France, and Germany formally initiated a 30-day process to reimpose United Nations sanctions on Iran under the so-called "snapback" mechanism. This action comes as Iran faces accusations of violating commitments made under the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPoA) concerning its nuclear program, following a series of Israeli and U.S. military strikes on Iranian nuclear sites earlier this year, according to Reuters and Los Angeles Times.

The E3 stated they decided to take this step to avoid losing their ability to reinstate sanctions by mid-October, amid claims that Iran's uranium enrichment activities are escalating towards weapons-grade levels. They emphasized their continued commitment to diplomacy and expressed hope for Iran to engage in negotiations soon, as reported by Reuters and Al Jazeera.

In response, Iranian officials condemned the move as "unjustified" and "illegal," asserting that Tehran would no longer engage in negotiations under such pressures. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi warned that the sanctions could lead to the intensification of the country’s nuclear program and threaten to withdraw from the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), according to Newsweek and Dawn.

The U.S. has welcomed the E3's decision, touting it as a means to curb Iran's nuclear ambitions, while emphasizing the importance of direct talks with Tehran. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio underscored that "direct engagement with Iran remains a priority," according to CBS News and Africa News.

Russia and China have firmly opposed the snapback sanctions, claiming they undermine international agreements and may provoke further conflict. Russia's UN envoy expressed that these actions risk pushing negotiations into a "total deadlock," indicating an escalating geopolitical divide, according to Al Jazeera and India Times.