Secretary of State Michael R. Pompeo delivers remarks to the media on Iran Snapback Sanctions, at the U.S. Department of State in Washington, D.C., on September 21, 2020. [State Department photo by Ron Przysucha.

By Gary Raynaldo     DIPLOMATIC  TIMES

The decision by the Trump administration  to go it alone and re-instate UN sanctions on Iran has set up a diplomatic clash with France, Germany and the UK which all vehemently oppose the U.S. unilateral move and have questioned its legality. The U.S.  is returning  all the UN  sanctions on Iran, including an arms embargo, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo announced Saturday.  The U.S. claims it took the action because Iran failed uphold its JCPOA commitments and the Security Council failed to extend the U.N. arms embargo on Iran, which had been in place for 13 years.  In a joint statement on Sunday, France, Germany and the UK (E3) maintained that any attempt by the U.S. to impose its own sanctions on countries not complying with the reimposed UN ones was also legally void.

“I take note of the US announcement of 19 September regarding the so-called UN sanctions “snapback mechanism” under the UN Security Council resolution 2231. As recalled in my statement of 20 August, as well as in the Chair’s statement following the JCPOA Joint Commission on 1 September 2020, the US unilaterally ceased participation in the JCPOA by presidential Memorandum on 8 May 2018 and has subsequently not participated in any JCPOA-related activities. It cannot, therefore, be considered to be a JCPOA participant State and cannot initiate the process of reinstating UN sanctions under the UN Security Council resolution 2231.”

-Statement by High Representative Josep Borrell, Coordinator of the Joint Commission of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, Sept. 21, 2020. 

Joseph Borrell,  EU High Representative

Borrell added that: “As coordinator of the JCPOA Joint Commission I will continue to do everything possible to ensure the preservation and full implementation of the JCPOA by all. The JCPOA remains a key pillar of the global non-proliferation architecture, contributing to regional and global security as it addresses Iran’s nuclear programme in a comprehensive manner. I call on all to do their utmost to preserve the agreement and to refrain from any action that could be perceived as an escalation in the current situation.”

“Our sanctions have saved countless Muslim, Jewish, and Christian lives” – Mike Pompeo 

U.S. Representative to the United Nations Kelly Craft delivers remarks to the media on Iran Snapback Sanctions, at the U.S. Department of State in Washington, D.C., on September 21, 2020. [State Department photo by Ron Przysucha/

On Monday, Secretary Michael R. Pompeo Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, Defense Secretary Mark Esper, Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross, U.S. Representative to the United Nations Kelly Craft, and National Security Advisor Robert O’Brien spoke at a press conference at the State Department headquarters in Washington D.C. regarding UN Iran Snapback Sanctions.

“Over the weekend, the U.S. effort to restore virtually all previously terminated UN sanctions on the Islamic Republic of Iran, including the arms embargo, pursuant to UN Security Council Resolution 2231 – the Trump administration has always been honest about the – what the Iranian regime really is: radical, revolutionary, and the world’s leading state sponsor of terrorism and anti-Semitism. President Trump understood that the JCPOA was a abject failure.  It didn’t bring Iran into the “community of nations,” or block Tehran’s path to a nuclear weapon. Just imagine what Iran would do if it were able to freely purchase more advanced weapons.  We have no intention of letting that happen.”

-U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo

Secretary Pompeo on the Iran arms embargo: ‘We believe deeply that this is good for the peoples of all nations.’

“Our sanctions have saved countless Muslim, Jewish, and Christian lives by denying Tehran access to more than $70 billion that could have otherwise gone to terror. We’ve done this all while keeping a channel open for humanitarian trade and assistance.  As we are demonstrating today, we’ll keep it up until the Iranian regime comes to the table and accepts a real deal for changing its behavior.  The American people should know that we will always put their safety first.”   – Secretary of State Pompeo