Iran Press/ Europe: German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas rejected the US move to initiate the so-called snapback of sanctions on Iran, saying only participants to the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) are able to initiate the process.
He added, “Our position on snapback is very clear, only JCPOA participants may notify the UN Security Council of significant non-performance of commitments under the JCPOA by Iran,” Maas told the New Arab in an interview published on Sunday.
“The US left the agreement in 2018 and therefore no longer has a right to initiate the process called ‘snapback’,” the German foreign minister said.
He also mentioned the new sanctions imposed by the US on Iran and expressed Germany’s view in that regard. “We also decided not to join its ‘maximum pressure’ campaign.”
“Germany, France and the United Kingdom remain committed to preserving and fully implementing the JCPOA. This agreement is currently the only instrument we have to keep Iran’s nuclear ambitions verifiably contained under robust international oversight.", underlined he.
On the contrary, Iran should take concrete practical steps towards full compliance with its nuclear commitments,” Maas stressed.
“The United Kingdom, France, and Germany, all signatories to the JCPOA, say the US does not have the legal right to trigger "snapback" sanctions because it pulled out of the Iran nuclear deal in 2018.
Russia and China, the other two JCPOA parties, have also strongly expressed their opposition to the US request.
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