UK, France and Germany agree to reject US demand for Iran snapback sanctions

European ‘E3’ ministers reach consensus during Kent meeting hosted by UK foreign secretary Dominic Raab

Patrick Wintour Diplomatic editor
Thu 10 Sep 2020 19.49 BST

Foreign ministers from the UK, France and Germany have agreed to hold out against US demands to snapback all UN sanctions on Iran, despite intensified pressure from the US specifically on the UK government to fall into line.

The US was left isolated at the UN security council last month when it said it wished to reimpose snapback sanctions, with the European nations – known collectively as the E3 – arguing that the US was no longer a participant in the deal and so unable to act unilaterally. The US, which left the deal in 2018, described the E3 position as crackers and pandering to terrorists. A further showdown on the issue at the UN is expected this month.

The UK foreign secretary Dominic Raab hosted a meeting in Chevening in Kent with his German and French counterparts Heiko Maas and Jean-Yves Le Drian.

Germany and France, co-operating with the UK over Iran despite the Brexit backdrop, acknowledge there are special UK sensitivities about defying its closest partner the US on such a critical security issue. The European diplomats recognise that the UK wants a free trade deal with the US, and defying the US on snapback may infuriate Donald Trump.

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