European capitals deny US has right to reimpose UN sanctions on Iran

In this image released by the U.S. Navy, the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz, left, transits the Strait of Hormuz, Friday. The U.S. Navy announced that he Nimitz group passed the Strait of Hormuz to enter the Gulf amid Washington threats to enforce "U.N." sanctions without the backing of European allies. AFP-Yonhap

The foreign ministers of France, Britain and Germany as well as the top European Union (EU) foreign affairs official denied that Washington has the right to reimpose U.N. sanctions on Iran on Sunday, after the U.S. said it initiated what is known as the snapback process

In a joint statement from three of the parties to the 2015 nuclear deal with Tehran, the ministers stressed the U.S. had pulled out of the deal in 2018 and therefore did not have the power to trigger the clause to reapply punitive measures.

"Any decisions and actions which would be taken based on this procedure or on its possible outcome would also be incapable of having any legal effect," the statement read.

The U.S. said on Saturday it had triggered the snapback mechanism, labelling Iran "the world's leading state sponsor of terror and anti-Semitism."

The Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) was signed by Iran, the U.S., France, Germany and Britain ― along with?Russia and China ― to curb Iran's nuclear activities, in exchange for the lifting of crippling economic sanctions. World powers worried Iran was seeking a bomb, something Tehran denied.

The deal was also enshrined in United Nations Resolution 2231.

Berlin, Paris and London said they stood by this resolution and the deal in its entirety. "We have worked tirelessly to preserve the nuclear agreement and remain committed to do so," the statement added.

EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell ― the coordinator of the JPCOA Joint Commission ― also hit out at the U.S. move on Saturday and said he would do everything in his power ensure the deal's preservation. (dpa)

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