Trump Orders 'Snapback' of Iran Nuclear Deal He Withdrew From... Allies Also Oppose (Comprehensive)

Directive to Trigger Snapback Clause of Iran Nuclear Deal Abandoned in 2018
Even the EU Expresses Reluctance Citing Lack of Authority...Concerns Over Worsening Diplomatic Confusion

[Image source=Reuters Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Hyunwoo Lee] U.S. President Donald Trump’s declaration to enforce the snapback sanctions clause, which was included as a detailed provision in the 2015 Iran nuclear deal (JCPOA - Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action), is expected to cause diplomatic friction with the United Nations (UN) and allied countries. The Iran nuclear deal was previously abandoned in 2018 under President Trump’s directive, and the deal’s signatories have already claimed that the U.S. cannot implement the snapback clause since it has withdrawn. Concerns are also rising within the U.S. about potential diplomatic confusion.

According to foreign media including The New York Times (NYT) on the 19th (local time), President Trump stated at a White House press conference that "I have instructed Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to notify the UN that the U.S. will restore all sanctions on Iran under the snapback clause." He added, "The U.S. always has the right to restore sanctions on Iran." Secretary Pompeo is scheduled to meet with UN Secretary-General Ant?nio Guterres and UN officials starting on the 20th regarding the restoration of sanctions on Iran.

Earlier, on the 15th, President Trump announced his intention to implement the snapback clause to fully restore sanctions against Iran, sparking controversy. The snapback clause was included as a detailed provision in the 2015 Iran nuclear deal, allowing the restoration of some previously eased sanctions if Iran fails to properly comply with the deal’s terms.

Since the U.S. withdrew from the Iran nuclear deal two years ago, there is growing international debate over whether the U.S. has the authority to enforce the snapback clause. Iran, along with pro-Iran countries such as China and Russia, argue that since the U.S. has already withdrawn from the deal and is no longer considered a participant, the snapback clause’s authority has also been nullified, and thus the U.S. cannot take measures to restore sanctions.

The European Union (EU) has also expressed reservations. On the 16th, Josep Borrell, the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, issued a statement regarding the U.S. enforcement of the snapback clause, saying, "The U.S. unilaterally withdrew from the nuclear deal in 2018 and cannot be considered a participant in the agreement," and "It is difficult to see the U.S. as being in a position to use the procedures established in the detailed provisions of the nuclear deal."

However, the Trump administration insists that although the U.S. withdrew from the Iran nuclear deal in 2018, it still remains a participant in the agreement and has the right to enforce the snapback clause. The administration’s attempt to enforce this contentious clause is interpreted as related to the recent failure at the UN Security Council on October 18 to extend the arms embargo on Iran. On that day, the U.S. proposed extending the arms embargo on Iran, but only the U.S. and the Dominican Republic supported the proposal, leading to its rejection. China and Russia opposed it, and the other 11 countries, including France, Germany, and the United Kingdom?participants in the Iran nuclear deal?abstained. The restoration of sanctions on Iran is linked to the U.S.’s diplomatic standing, which explains the Trump administration’s increasingly hardline stance.

Within the U.S., voices are warning that if the Trump administration insists excessively, it could cause diplomatic confusion. The U.S. political media Axios reported, "Israeli and Western diplomats warn that a major diplomatic crisis could arise within the next 30 days," adding, "If the issue is rejected at the UN, it will become more difficult for U.S. sanctions on Iran to receive international cooperation, and even if the Trump administration stubbornly continues to impose unilateral sanctions by overturning the UN’s decision, diplomatic friction will be unavoidable."

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