UK, France and Germany launch process of restoring international sanctions on Iran

The UK, France, and Germany on Thursday launched a 30-day process to reimpose U.N. sanctions on Iran, Reuters writes.

A senior Iranian official quickly accused the three European powers of harming diplomacy and vowed that Tehran would not bow to pressure over the move by the E3 to launch the so-called “snapback mechanism.”

“The move is an action against diplomacy, not a chance for it. Diplomacy with Europe will continue,” the official said.

French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot said the decision did not signal the end of diplomacy.

The three powers feared they would otherwise lose the prerogative in mid-October to restore sanctions on Tehran that were lifted under a 2015 nuclear accord with world powers.