Iran Faces⁢ Renewed sanctions Threat as Nuclear Talks Stall

DUBAI – Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi is⁢ scheduled⁤ to hold a phone call wiht his French, British, and German counterparts on friday to discuss the stalled nuclear talks and the looming threat of renewed ⁢sanctions. The call comes as European powers warn of⁤ activating the “snapback mechanism” if Iran does not return to the negotiating table.

France, Germany, and the United Kingdom, along with the United ⁤States, contend⁣ that Iran’s nuclear program has the potential to be used for weapons development, a claim ⁢Iran vehemently⁣ denies. Negotiations between Iran and the U.S., aimed at ‍curbing Iran’s nuclear ⁤ambitions, were suspended after a joint U.S.-Israeli ⁤action targeting ⁢Iranian nuclear sites in june.

As then, inspectors from the ⁣International ‍Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) ⁢have‍ been ⁢unable to access Iran’s nuclear facilities, despite repeated calls from⁤ IAEA chief Rafael Grossi for access, stating that inspections remain ‍essential. This lack of access has heightened concerns among international powers and fueled the threat of sanctions.

The “snapback” mechanism,as outlined in the original nuclear agreement,would reimpose United Nations sanctions on Iran. The European powers have given ⁣Iran until the end of August to resume talks or face these consequences. The situation remains tense,with the outcome of Friday’s call potentially determining the future of the⁢ nuclear agreement and regional stability.