The E3 (the United Kingdom, Germany, and France) will reportedly initiate the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) snapback process as soon as August 28, according to three European diplomats and one Western diplomat.[1] The JCPOA snapback mechanism allows JCPOA signatories to reimpose UN Security Council (UNSC) sanctions on Iran in the event of “significant non-performance” of JCPOA commitments.[2] The snapback mechanism is currently set to expire on October 18, 2025. The E3 imposed a deadline of August 31 on Iran to make meaningful progress toward a nuclear deal, such as by renewing cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and resuming negotiations with the United States.[3] The E3 offered to postpone the expiration of the snapback mechanism to allow Iran more time to negotiate with the United States.[4] Iran reportedly failed to make “sufficiently tangible commitments” during the most recent Iran-E3 meeting in Geneva on August 26.[5] Another source stated that Iran offered “very little to work with” to secure an extension.[6]
It is unclear if the E3 will initiate the dispute resolution process outlined in the JCPOA or directly refer Iran's non-compliance to the UNSC. The dispute resolution process can take up to 35 days and involves a series of steps that aim to resolve non-compliance issues.[7] The E3 can choose to engage in the dispute resolution process and then refer the issue to the UNSC if it believes that Iran continues to show “significant non-performance.” The E3 can, conversely, bypass the dispute resolution process and directly refer the non-compliance issue to the UNSC. The E3 would be required to include a description of “the good-faith efforts the [E3] made to exhaust the dispute resolution process” when they refer Iran's non-compliance to the UNSC.[8] The JCPOA gives the UNSC 30 days to pass a resolution to extend sanctions relief for Iran, but UNSC permanent members (the United States, the United Kingdom, France, China, and Russia) can veto such a resolution. The E3 is reportedly hopeful that Iran will make unspecified commitments regarding its nuclear program within 30 days that will allow the E3 to avoid reimposing UNSC sanctions on Iran.[9] The snapback mechanism would reimpose six UNSC resolutions on Iran, including bans on the transfer of conventional arms to and from Iran, international support for Iran's missile program, enrichment-related activities, and the testing and development of nuclear-capable missiles.[10]
Hardline Iranian parliamentarians criticized the return of International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) inspectors to Iran and argued that their return undermines a recent law that parliament passed to restrict cooperation with the agency.[11] These criticisms arose after IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi announced on August 26 that IAEA inspectors would soon resume inspections in Iran.[12] Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI) Spokesperson Behrouz Kamalvandi stated on August 27 that IAEA inspectors will supervise the fuel replacement at the Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant (BNPP) to ensure that electricity is produced in a timely manner.[13] The Iranian parliament passed a bill on June 25 to suspend all cooperation with the IAEA.[14]
The Iranian Parliamentary National Security and Foreign Policy Commission warned on August 26 that the AEOI and Foreign Affairs Ministry must fully comply with the law suspending cooperation with the IAEA.[15] Hardline parliamentarians separately accused the Supreme National Security Council (SNSC) on August 27 of concealing decisions from parliament and the public.[16] Hardliners warned that continued government cooperation with the IAEA would justify legal action against senior SNSC officials for undermining parliament's authority.[17] Foreign Affairs Minister Abbas Araghchi stated on August 20 that Iran cannot completely end all cooperation with the IAEA since the upcoming fuel replacement at the BNPP requires inspectors to be present. Araghchi emphasized that the return of IAEA inspectors to Iran would take place within the framework of the law that parliament passed on July 25.[18] The IAEA inspectors currently in Iran are reportedly only permitted to oversee the fuel replacement at the BNPP and cannot access or inspect damaged nuclear sites such as Natanz and Fordow.[19] These sites remain largely inaccessible to any party.
Iran may have allowed IAEA inspectors to return to Iran to show limited cooperation and ease international pressure from the E3. The E3 offered on July 25 to extend the snapback mechanism's deadline if Iran fully cooperated with the IAEA, resumed nuclear talks with the United States, and accounted for its 60 percent enriched uranium stockpile.[20] Grossi stated on August 26 that the 12-day war damaged some Iranian nuclear facilities and that he and Iranian officials have discussed steps to restart the agency's work in Iran.[21] The location of Iran's 408 kilograms of 60 percent enriched uranium is unknown, and it is unclear if Iran can access this material.[22]
https://www.understandingwar.org/backgrounder/iran-update-august-27-2025
