Trump Orders Notification to UN Requesting Restoration of Sanctions Against Iran

Using 'Snapback' to Restore Iran Sanctions
Trump Orders Secretary of State Pompeo to Notify the UN

▲Donald Trump, President of the United States [Image source=EPA Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kwon Jae-hee] On the 19th (local time), U.S. President Donald Trump announced that he would request the restoration of all UN sanctions on Iran. This comes after the UN Security Council resolution led by the U.S. to extend the arms embargo on Iran was rejected, and the U.S. plans to seek an extension of sanctions through the snapback mechanism.

According to Bloomberg and other sources on the same day, President Trump instructed Secretary of State Mike Pompeo at a White House press briefing to "notify the UN that the U.S. will invoke the 'snapback' of sanctions on Iran."

The snapback refers to a provision that allows the reinstatement of eased sanctions if Iran fails to comply with the nuclear agreement (JCPOA - Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action).

President Trump argued that although the U.S. withdrew from the Iran nuclear deal in 2018, it still remains a participant in the agreement signed in 2015, and therefore can enforce the restoration of sanctions if Iran is deemed to have violated the agreement.

This was a direct rebuttal to the European Union (EU), which pointed out that since the U.S. unilaterally withdrew from the JCPOA, it is no longer a participant in the agreement and thus does not have the authority to trigger snapback sanctions.

The U.S. had previously declared that it would extend sanctions through snapback after the UN Security Council resolution it led to extend the arms embargo on Iran was rejected on the 14th.

Secretary Pompeo stated, "The U.S. will use all possible diplomatic means to prevent Iran from acquiring weapons abroad."

Kelly Craft, U.S. Ambassador to the UN, also said, "The U.S. has the right to activate the snapback," and added, "We will continue to actively work to extend Iran's sanctions."

Meanwhile, the JCPOA was signed in 2015 between Iran and six countries: the U.S., the UK, France, Germany, Russia, and China. It stipulates that Iran will reduce and freeze its nuclear program and allow inspections by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in exchange for the lifting of nuclear-related sanctions imposed by the UN, the U.S., and the EU.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.