US Lawmakers Urge European Allies to Reinstate Sanctions on Iran Amid Growing Nuclear Concerns

FIRST ON FOX: Lawmakers in the United States are calling for the reinstatement of rigorous United Nations sanctions on Iran. In a recent resolution, they accused Tehran of violating the 2015 nuclear agreement that the Obama administration negotiated.

This bipartisan legislation urges the United Kingdom, France, and Germany to activate the “snapback” sanctions on Iran through the UN Security Council without delay, aligning with the U.S. strategy under President Donald Trump’s “maximum pressure” executive order. The aim is to isolate Iran due to its ongoing nuclear activities.

Senator Pete Ricketts, a Republican from Nebraska and the lead sponsor of the bill, emphasized the serious implications of Iran’s actions. He stated that Iran is the world’s foremost state sponsor of terrorism and that such actions have resulted in the deaths of American servicemembers.

Ricketts continued, observing that Iran’s potential acquisition of nuclear weapons poses a significant threat to U.S. security and the safety of allied nations. He firmly believes that snapback sanctions are essential to ensure the effectiveness of President Trump’s maximum pressure campaign.

IRAN’S NUCLEAR ACTIVITIES UNDER SCRUTINY

Representatives Claudia Tenney, a Republican from New York, and Josh Gottheimer, a Democrat from New Jersey, have introduced similar legislation in the House of Representatives.

Under the terms of the 2015 Iran deal, formally known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), Iran agreed to relinquish its pursuit of nuclear weapons in exchange for the lifting of UN, U.S., and European Union sanctions. However, Iran has since restricted independent access to its nuclear sites and ramped up its nuclear activities.

The snapback provision of the JCPOA allows any party to the agreement, including China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom, the United States, or Germany, to demand the reimposition of export controls, travel bans, and asset freezes.

The U.S. withdrew from the nuclear agreement during Trump’s first term and established its own stringent sanctions regime. The Biden administration later attempted to negotiate a renewed nuclear agreement but those discussions ultimately did not succeed.

Representative Tenney urged European nations to implement snapback sanctions before the deal is set to expire in October 2025.

“Implementing these sanctions would reinstate all UN sanctions on Iran that were lifted due to the previous administration’s ill-fated nuclear deal,” she said.

INCREASED URANIUM ENRICHMENT RAISES ALARMS

Recent reports indicate that Iran is significantly increasing its enrichment of uranium, reaching levels of up to 60 percent purity. Although this is still below the 90 percent required for weapons-grade uranium, experts assert that there is no legitimate civilian justification for such high levels of enrichment, as noted by Rafael Grossi, the head of the UN nuclear watchdog.

TRUMP SIGNALS CONTINUED PRESSURE ON IRAN

In December, Britain, France, and Germany communicated to the UN Security Council their readiness to trigger the snapback of all international sanctions on Iran if deemed necessary.

President Trump expressed mixed feelings regarding recent sanctions actions against Iran’s oil sector. He acknowledged his reluctance but also reiterated the imperative to prevent Iran from obtaining nuclear capabilities.

“We cannot allow them to acquire a nuclear weapon,” Trump stated emphatically.

Trump also suggested that he would prefer pursuing a verified nuclear agreement over escalating military tensions. He remarked during a Fox News interview that he would prefer to negotiate a deal without resorting to military action.

However, Iranian leadership interpreted the president’s remarks as hostile, rejecting negotiations. Ayatollah Ali Khamenei declared, “No problem will be solved by negotiating with America,” referencing previous diplomatic experiences.

Khamenei urged Iran to further enhance its military capabilities, asserting, “We should not become complacent. We previously set limits on the precision of our missiles, but we now see that this limit is insufficient. We must advance our capabilities.”

He stressed the importance of military strength, remarking, “Today, our defensive capacity is well recognized, and our adversaries are apprehensive. This is crucial for our nation.”

IMPLICATIONS OF THE SANCTIONS MOVE

The call from U.S. lawmakers for reinstating sanctions on Iran reflects broader concerns about the country’s nuclear ambitions and its status as a destabilizing force in the region. The prospect of enhanced uranium enrichment and the potential for developing nuclear weapons raise alarms among global powers.

Meanwhile, the lack of a concrete resolution regarding Iran’s nuclear program underscores the challenges of diplomatic negotiations and the complex geopolitical landscape at play. As European allies consider the U.S. request, the potential for renewed international sanctions looms larger, further complicating Iran’s already precarious position.

A RISE IN TENSIONS

The ongoing tensions between Iran and the West may escalate as these geopolitical dynamics unfold. Iran’s provocative moves regarding its nuclear program have already strained relations, contributing to a wider regional insecurity. As lawmakers push for action, the international community watches closely to see how this plays out on the global stage.