With the approval of the Security Council, they will be valid on Saturday (27) strict measures, ranging from arms embargo to economic restrictions
All resolutions of relating to sanctions against Tehran to prevent nuclear proliferation in the raised by virtue of the 2015 agreement, will be repayment on Saturday night (27), except for an unlikely diplomatic advance of the last minute. The joint integral action plan (JCPOA), signed in 2015 by Iran and the five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council – China,France, the United Kingdom and Russia – in addition to Germany and the European Union, allowed the UN to suspend international sanctions against Tehran in exchange for restrictions on its nuclear program.
But sanctions will come into force again at Midnight GMT (21h in Brasilia) on Saturday with the activation of a repayment mechanism requested on August 28 by Group E3 (Germany, France, United Kingdom), which considered that Iran did not fulfill its obligations. Next, AFP explains what implies the snapback:
Who or what are the sanctions go?
Sanctions are directed to companies, entities and individuals who directly or indirectly contribute to the Iranian nuclear program or the development of ballistic missiles, either by providing the necessary equipment, technical knowledge or financing.
What sectors will be affected?
Sanctions that will be replaced include, in particular, an embargo on conventional weapons, which prohibits any sale or transfer of weapons to Iran. Therefore, imports, exports or transfers of parts, goods and technologies related to nuclear programs and ballistic missiles of Iran will be prohibited. nuclear programs.
In addition, it will be possible to ban international entry and traffic in the UN Member States for people designated for participating in prohibited activities. UN Member States should also restrict banking and financial activities that may help Iran in their nuclear programs or ballistic missile programs. Similarly, persons or entities that violate the provisions may have their goods or frozen assets at the international level.
Are there other measures?
Yes, the European Union has adopted its own measures that apply and expand the resolutions of the UN Security Council. The purpose of these measures is to have a direct impact on the Iranian economy, not only to make nuclear activity difficult, but also to impose an economic cost on Iranian power and force it to modify its behavior in relation to nuclear proliferation.
Western powers fear that Iran gets nuclear weapons, something Tehran categorically denies, while advocating its right to develop a nuclear program for civil purposes. On the other hand, the United States already impose their own sanctions, including some that prohibit other countries to buy Iranian oil after President Donald Trump removed the US from the 2015 agreement during his first term (2017-2021).
How does snapback get into force?
The Snapback process reactivates UN resolutions, but its practical implementation requires the UN Member States to update their laws to comply with them. The EU and the UK will need to pass the legislation necessary for sanctions to be applied, but have not yet provided details on this process.
Will the sanctions be fulfilled?
The resolutions and sanctions of the UN Security Council are binding but regularly violated. The big question is whether countries like China and Russia, which consider it illegal to activate “snapback”, will respect measures against Iran. Some countries, including China, continued to negotiate with Iran despite the US sanctions, which were restored when the US withdrew from JCPOA in 2018. European powers anticipate that Russia will not comply with the sanctions, but they are not clarity as China. It will react, considering that it imports large amounts of oil in Iran.
“Evading sanctions has a political but also economic cost, because financial transactions become more expensive,” noted Clément Theme, an associate researcher at the International Institute of Iranian Studies at Sorbonne University. There will be greater pressure, for example, about maritime transport companies. “In the case of UN sanctions, there will probably not be a total blockade, but the costs will increase,” Summed Herme.
*With information from AFP
