Marco Rubio Calls on Iran for Direct Talks After UN Sanctions Return
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In a new escalation regarding the Iranian nuclear file, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio called on Tehran yesterday evening, Saturday, to accept direct talks with the United States "in good faith and without delay or disruption," following the re-implementation of UN sanctions on Iran.
Rubio confirmed in an official statement that "diplomacy is still on the table, and reaching a new agreement remains the best option for the Iranian people and the world."
He emphasized the need for Iran to show seriousness and readiness for direct negotiations, while also calling on all countries to implement the sanctions immediately.
* Activation of the 'Snapback' Mechanism
This development comes after the expiration of the snapback mechanism activated by France, Britain, and Germany in late August, due to Iran's failure to comply with its nuclear commitments under the 2015 agreement.
Following the UN Security Council vote and the failure of both Russia and China on Friday to extend the deadline, the sanctions were automatically activated at 12:00 PM GMT (Sunday), ten years after they were suspended under the 2015 agreement.
* Sanctions Return Strongly
The new sanctions include a series of strict measures, most notably :
• Freezing Iranian assets abroad
• Prohibiting the sale or purchase of weapons with Iran
• Punishing any development of ballistic missile programs
• Imposing extensive economic and financial restrictions
These sanctions have been activated under the "Snapback" mechanism outlined in the 2015 Iranian nuclear agreement, which allows any signatory country to reimpose sanctions if Tehran does not comply with the agreement.
* A Complex Scene
The return of sanctions is likely to complicate the political and diplomatic landscape between Tehran and Washington, especially after the stalling of indirect talks in recent months.
In light of European pressures and changing positions of the Security Council, it seems that Iran is at a crossroads, either returning to the negotiating table or facing new economic and political isolation.
