Rubio presses Europe to reimpose sanctions if Iran out of compliance

US Secretary of State said on Friday that Iran is nearing nuclear weapons capability and urged European nations to decide soon on reimposing sanctions under the snapback mechanism.

“Well for the Europeans they have an important decision to make very soon on the snapback of sanctions because Iran is clearly out of compliance with the current deal,” Rubio said.

“As you saw, the IAEA was in Tehran yesterday, uh, issued public statements saying Iran is as close as it's ever been to nuclear weapons,” he added.

Rubio said President Donald Trump “made clear Iran will not have a nuclear weapon. That is not going to happen.”

He said Washington prefers a diplomatic solution. “We're hoping that talks continue and that they're fruitful and that they can lead to something. We would all prefer a peaceful resolution and a lasting one.”

He added that any agreement must prevent Iran from developing a nuclear weapon not just now but long-term, and “not just for 10 years with some sort of sunset provision or the like.”

Rubio said the E3 – Britain, France, and Germany – would soon receive a new IAEA report showing Iran is “dangerously close to a weapon — closer than they've ever been,” and will need to decide whether to reimpose sanctions.

“If Iran is out of compliance, they have to reimpose the sanctions,” he said. “That's going to be a factor in all this.”

Iran has accumulated nearly 300 kilograms of 60% enriched uranium in violation of the 2015 JCPOA nuclear deal. Germany, France and the United Kingdom are also signatories of the JCPOA. The final sunset clause of the agreement is approaching in October and the three European countries can use their prerogative to bring back UN sanctions against Iran that the deal suspended ten years ago.