The United States formally activated Thursday, August 20 at the UN a controversial procedure and with uncertain outcome to demand the reinstatement of international sanctions against Iran, accused of having violated the 2015 nuclear agreement.
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The head of American diplomacy Mike Pompeo " notified the Security Council " of a "significant non-respect by Iran of its commitments " provided for by the text supposed to prevent Tehran from acquiring the atomic bomb, according to a letter which l 'AFP obtained a copy.
The letter was personally delivered by the Secretary of State to Indonesian Ambassador Dian Triansyah Djani, who is chairing the Security Council this month. The United States specifies triggering this mechanism, known as “ snapback ”, under one of the “ participants ” in the 2015 agreement “ as identified in the resolution ” which ratified it.
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However, US President Donald Trump having slammed the door of this international compromise in 2018, Washington's ability to claim this status is contested by most of the other members of the Security Council, including its European allies. In a memo sent to the media, the US State Department assured to be within its rights.
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The Republican billionaire, who considers this agreement “ disastrous ” and promises to obtain a “ better ” one by exerting “ maximum pressure ” on Tehran, has already restored and even toughened all American sanctions. In response, the Iranian authorities have started to go back on their nuclear commitments, particularly in terms of uranium enrichment.
" Despite the extensive efforts and exhaustive diplomacy " carried out by France, the United Kingdom and Germany to bring the Republic back on the right track, its violations " persist ", affirms Mike Pompeo, estimating that " the United States does not 'therefore have no other choice ' than to activate the ' snapback '. Theoretically, this complex process provided for by the resolution that ratified the 2015 agreement should allow the rest of the international punitive measures to be returned in 30 days, almost automatically. But according to several observers, the Indonesian ambassador could, after consulting the other members of the Council, dismiss the American complaint.