Key Facts
• From 2006 to 2010, the UN Security Council adopted multiple sanctions against Iran.
• Sanctions included asset freezes and bans on arms sales to Iran.
• In 2015, a UN resolution approved the Iran nuclear deal, lifting sanctions in exchange for limits on Iran’s nuclear activities.
• The resolution introduced a ‘snapback’ mechanism to reinstate sanctions if Iran violated the deal.
• The snapback can be triggered by any nuclear deal party: the US, UK, France, Germany, China, or Russia.
• Unlike typical UN resolutions, snapback bypasses veto power and reinstates sanctions unless a new resolution is passed within 30 days.
• The 2015 resolution expires in mid-October 2025, after which snapback cannot be used.
• The UK, France, and Germany recently triggered the snapback to pressure Iran for concessions.
• Russia and China proposed extending the resolution by six months, seeking to delay snapback activation.
• European nations are unlikely to accept Russia’s proposal, aiming for immediate action.
Summary
The UN Security Council’s 2015 resolution, which approved the Iran nuclear deal, included a ‘snapback’ mechanism to reinstate sanctions if Iran violated the agreement. This mechanism bypasses veto power, allowing any nuclear deal party to trigger sanctions reinstatement. With the resolution set to expire in October 2025, the UK, France, and Germany have activated the snapback to pressure Iran for compliance. Meanwhile, Russia and China proposed extending the resolution to delay the process, but European nations are unlikely to agree. The snapback’s unique structure highlights its role in addressing Iran’s nuclear activities while circumventing traditional veto constraints.
