The EU has said it will start reimposing UN sanctions on Iran from August 29 if it makes no progress in curbing its nuclear program by then.
Speaking at a meeting with EU partners, French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot said: France and its partners are rational to reimpose global embargoes on weapons, banking and nuclear equipment that were lifted 10 years ago. If Iran does not have a solid, concrete and veriitable commitment, we will do so by the end of August at the latest."
This move can be seen as an attempt to reaffirm Europe's influence in the recent context of US President Donald Trump's order to bomb Iran's nuclear facilities.
After the deadline of late August, the implementation process could lead to the reimposing of a series of sanctions against Iran on October 15, giving European parties (including the UK, France and Germany) participating in signing the nuclear deal in 2015 continuous leverage in negotiations with Iran.
European powers want to see a United Nations nuclear inspector return to Iran to prevent Iran from restructuring its nuclear program following damage caused by US attacks in June.
The way the 2015 nuclear deal is negotiated does not allow other signatories, such as China or Russia, to deny the reimposing of sanctions, but European countries can postpone the reimposing of sanctions until October for further consultation.
After withdrawing from the Iran nuclear deal in 2018, the US cannot deny the move of the UK or France.
The reimposing of sanctions on Iran will be triggered under Chapter 7 of the UN Charter, making it mandatory to restore six UN resolutions, including a resolution requiring Iran to suspend all activities related to uranium enrichment and recycling, including at the research and development level.
Another resolution requires all UN member states to prevent the transfer of any goods, materials or technology that could serve these activities or Iran's missile program.
Experts on Iran's sanctions say the reimposed resolutions will not automatically stop all of Iran's oil exports, cut off Iran's access to international financial systems, or cut off trade activities in general. However, all countries and international financial institutions will have to restrain themselves from providing financial assistance, new commitments or providing preferential loans to the Iranian government, except for humanitarian and development purposes.
