6 questions explaining the importance of reimposing sanctions on Iran

US President Donald Trump’s administration has announced that all UN sanctions on Iran have come into effect and that a conventional arms embargo on it will not expire in mid-October.

But 13 of the 15 member states of the UN Security Council – including longtime allies of the United States – said Washington’s move was wrong.

Diplomats say only a handful of countries are likely to reimpose measures that were lifted under the nuclear deal Iran signed with world powers in 2015 aimed at preventing it from developing nuclear weapons.

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo also emphasized that “the return of sanctions today is a step towards international peace and security. In the coming days, the United States will announce additional measures to strengthen the implementation of UN sanctions and hold violators accountable.”

Here’s a look at the events that led to this controversy and what might happen next.

Why will the arms embargo on Iran end?

• The UN Security Council imposed an arms embargo on Iran in 2007, and that embargo expires on October 18 under the 2015 nuclear deal between Iran, Russia, China, Germany, Great Britain, France and the United States.
• The accord prevents Tehran from developing nuclear weapons in exchange for sanctions relief, and the accord was included in a Security Council resolution in 2015.
• In 2018, US President Donald Trump pulled out of the nuclear deal negotiated by his predecessor Barack Obama’s administration, calling it “the worst deal ever”.
• Last month, the United States failed to extend the embargo on Iran at the Security Council.

What does this mean for the 2015 nuclear deal?

• The parties that remain bound by the nuclear deal have said they are committed to keeping it, and Iran has said the accord will remain in place despite the US move at the United Nations.
• Britain, France and Germany told the UN Security Council on Friday that Iran’s exemption from UN sanctions will continue beyond September 20.
• “We have worked tirelessly to preserve the nuclear deal and we remain committed to doing so,” the three European ambassadors wrote in a letter to the council.

What fines will be returned?

• The reimposition of UN sanctions requires Iran to halt all activities related to enrichment and reprocessing, including research and development, and to ban the import of anything that would support those activities or develop nuclear weapons delivery systems.
• It also includes reimposing an arms embargo on Iran, preventing the development of ballistic missiles capable of launching nuclear weapons, and renewing specific sanctions on dozens of individuals and entities.
• Countries are encouraged to inspect shipments to and from Iran and will be allowed to seize any prohibited shipments.

What caused this result?

• Last month, the United States filed a complaint with the United Nations Security Council over Iran’s violation of the nuclear deal.
• After the United States withdrew from the nuclear deal, Washington imposed strong unilateral sanctions to force Iran to return to negotiations for a new deal.
• In response, Iran violated key restrictions imposed by the deal, including on its stockpile of enriched uranium.
• The United States says that with a 2015 UN Security Council resolution that included the nuclear deal in its framework, it has thus triggered a 30-day process to reimpose all UN sanctions on Iran.
• Washington believes that despite the withdrawal from the nuclear agreement, the decision still considers it a participating country.
• The Security Council would have 30 days to vote on a resolution to ease sanctions against Iran, and if such a resolution is not passed before the deadline, all UN sanctions that were in place before the 2015 nuclear deal would be automatically reimposed. Such a resolution did not come to the vote.
• Last month, Indonesia – which chaired the UN Security Council in August – said there was “no option to take further action” on US efforts to lift all UN sanctions on Iran; Because the issue does not enjoy consensus within the Council.
• 13 of the 15 member states of the Security Council say they oppose Washington’s moves; He considers it wrong given that he is using the process under a nuclear deal to which he is no longer a party.
• Pompeo warned yesterday, Saturday, saying: “If UN member states fail to meet their obligations to impose these sanctions, the United States stands ready to use its domestic authority to impose consequences for that failure.”

What will the United States do now?

• The US president is set to issue an executive order that would allow him to impose sanctions on anyone who violates a UN-imposed conventional arms embargo on Iran. In an attempt to reinforce America’s insistence that the event be extended indefinitely beyond the following October 18.
• The executive order is expected to be issued in the coming days and will allow the president to punish foreign violators, as US entities are already barred from any arms-related transactions with Iran and barred from entering the US market.

How will the administration under the leadership of Democrat Joe Biden deal with Iran?

• Three prominent Iranian officials said their country’s leadership is determined to remain committed to the nuclear deal, hoping that Trump’s Democratic rival Joe Biden wins the U.S. presidential election on Nov. 3, which could save the deal.
• Biden, who was Obama’s deputy during the nuclear deal negotiations, said he would bring his country back into it if Iran first complied with all its provisions.
• “If Iran returns to strict compliance with the nuclear deal, the United States will rejoin and rely on the deal and work with its allies to counter Iran’s destabilizing actions,” said Biden campaign spokesman Andrew Bates.