When will the EU (and EU-lover Lammy) ever learn? Iran wants the Bomb
10 years on, and sanctions are to be imposed - again, after Iran has had more years to build one
Montage © Facts4EU.Org 2025
We hate to say “We told you so,” but here we (and the EU) go again
Yesterday the so-called ‘E3’ – the UK, France and Germany – put Iran on 30 days’ notice of its intention to re-impose crippling sanctions on the country and on key individuals in its regime. Today the UN Security Council will meet to discuss this.
Reactions in Iran have been mixed, from hardliners vowing to close the Straits of Hormuz – a key passage for freight and oil tankers - to international shipping, and threatening military reprisals, to those deeply worried about public unrest repeating itself and mass protests forming against the regime once again, and who are therefore advocating compromise and diplomacy.
Iran’s intention to become a nuclear power, leading to ‘JCPoA’
Iran’s intention to become a nuclear power goes back decades, despite signing the non-proliferation pact in the 1970s. In this century there has been a litany of deals broken and limited sanctions, culminating in a showdown 10 years ago.
In 2015 the West’s alarm over Iran’s apparent intention to enrich uranium at a level consistent with the development of nuclear weapons led to what should have been a key agreement, named JCPoA (the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action). Rather than enrich its precious stocks of uranium at a level consistent with a nuclear power programme, Iran had clearly been going way beyond this and sanctions had been imposed, causing major economic hardship in the country.
The countries involved were the five Permanent Members of the Security Council – the US, UK, China, France and Russia – plus the EU and Germany. This started in the days when President Obama was in the White House and the EU’s Foreign Secretary was an obvious Iranophile.
In his first term, President Trump withdrew from JCPoA in 2018, to howls of protest and criticism from the EU. Trump did not believe the Iranians and imposed strict sanctions, thereby limiting the effects of JCPoA considerably. This followed years of procrastination and breaches by the Iranians.
“The Iran Deal was one of the worst and most one-sided transactions the United States has ever entered into.”
- President Trump, 08 May 2018
Here is how the EU’s Foreign Secretary responded, with a message to the Iranian people :-
Credit: EU Commission
“Let me conclude with a message to the Iranian citizens and leaders. To each and every one of them. Do not let anyone dismantle this agreement. It is one of the biggest achievements diplomacy has ever delivered, and we built this together. It is the demonstration that win win solutions are possible, through dialogue, engagement and perseverance. That common ground can be found, even when positions and interests differ. That respect can be a universal language.
“This deal belongs to each and every one of us. Stay true to your commitments, as we will stay true to ours. And together, with the rest of the international community, we will preserve the nuclear deal.”
- EU Vice-President and Foreign Secretary Mogherini, 08 May 2018
Since then the EU continued with its policy of appeasement with Iran, despite Iran’s increasing breaches. In May of that year Iran announced it would be unilaterally breaking the agreement.
The following year, Iran seized a British tanker by force and the EU said nothing
In July 2019, Iran acted militarily using special forces against a British-flagged tanker in Omani waters in the Straits of Hormuz – an essential international waterway which must be kept open.
Yet there was still no comment from the President of the EU Council Donald Tusk, nor from the President of the EU Commission Jean-Claude Juncker, nor from the President of the EU Parliament David Sassoli.
“We told you so”
Since 2015 Brexit Facts4EU has consistently criticised the weak and accommodating posture of the EU towards Iran’s blatant disregard of its obligations under the treaty. These ranged from hidden facilities being revealed, to refusals to allow officials and inspectors from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) even to enter the country. When they were sometimes allowed in, the conditions imposed were so restrictive as to make it impossible for them to do their jobs.
Meanwhile the EU has continued with its policy of appeasement.
By contrast, Israel has acted decisively, striking Iranian nuclear sites to severely hinder the inevitable progress Iran is making towards having ‘the Bomb’.
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Finally, an astonishing ‘mea culpa’ from the UK, France and Germany
Given the above, it was with great surprise that we noted the statement yesterday from Foreign Secretary David Lammy and his counterparts from France and Germany.
Below we reprint this statement, with only some of the more longwinded sections which add little to the meaning removed. We have emboldened some of the key passages.
E3 joint statement on Iran: Initiation of the snapback process
28 August 2025
“We, the Foreign Ministers of France, Germany and the United Kingdom, share the fundamental objective that Iran shall never seek, acquire or develop a nuclear weapon. We negotiated the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPoA) with the conviction that it would decisively contribute to ensuring the exclusively peaceful nature of Iran’s nuclear programme. The United Nations Security Council unanimously endorsed the JCPoA in resolution 2231 of 20th July 2015. It was a major achievement for non-proliferation, as such strengthening international peace and security.
“ Following the United States’ withdrawal from the JCPoA on 8th May 2018, and in spite of Iran ceasing the implementation of its commitments under the JCPoA beginning in May 2019, France, Germany and the United Kingdom (the “E3”) remained committed participants to the deal.
“Since 2019, Iran has exceeded JCPoA limits on enriched uranium, heavy water, and centrifuges, restricted the IAEA’s ability to conduct JCPoA verification and monitoring activities, and has abandoned the implementation and the ratification process of the Additional Protocol to its Comprehensive Safeguards Agreement. These actions contravene Iran’s commitments set out in the JCPoA and have serious implications on the capacity of Iran to progress toward developing a nuclear weapon.
“ This was more than five years ago. Since then, we have made all possible efforts to resolve the impasse. We consistently undertook intensive diplomatic efforts to deescalate tensions and to bring Iran and the United States to the negotiating table for a comprehensive negotiated solution. We acted in good faith to preserve the JCPoA, in the sincere hope of finding a way to resolve the impasse through constructive diplomatic dialogue, while preserving the agreement and remaining within its framework.
“ This included the use of the JCPoA’s Dispute Resolution Mechanism, initiated on 14 January 2020 and confirmed by the JCPoA Coordinator, pursuant to paragraph 36 of the JCPoA. The E3 also engaged in good faith in negotiations conducted from 6th April 2021 until 28th February 2022 to re-establish Iran’s full compliance with the JCPoA and allow for a return of the United States to the deal. The JCPoA Coordinator tabled viable proposals in March and again in August 2022. Iran refused both packages while continuing to raise unacceptable demands beyond the scope of the JCPoA. Despite this, we have continued to engage Iran as part of our efforts to find a peaceful resolution of this issue through diplomacy, as set out in our letter to the United Nations Secretary General of 8th August 2025.
“ In July 2025, the E3 have put on the table an offer for the extension of resolution 2231 and its snapback mechanism. The requirements set by the E3 in exchange for this extension – including the resumption of negotiations, Iran’s compliance with its IAEA obligations, and steps to address our concerns regarding the high enriched uranium stockpile - have not yet been satisfactorily met by Iran. The combination of such Iranian steps and a time-limited extension would have provided a credible path towards reaching a political agreement to replace the JCPoA and address our longstanding concerns regarding Iran’s nuclear programme.
“ Today, Iran’s non-compliance with the JCPoA is clear and deliberate, and sites of major proliferation concern in Iran are outside of IAEA monitoring. Iran has no civilian justification for its high enriched uranium stockpile - now over 9 Significant Quantities - which is also unaccounted for by the IAEA. Its nuclear programme therefore remains a clear threat to international peace and security.
“ As a result of Iran’s actions, and in accordance with paragraph 11 of United Nations Security Council Resolution 2231 (2015), France, Germany and the United Kingdom have today decided to notify the Security Council that we believe Iran is in significant non-performance of its commitments under the JCPoA, thereby engaging the “snapback” mechanism.
“ This notification initiates the snapback process defined in Resolution 2231. It opens a 30-day period before the possible reestablishment of previously terminated United Nations Security Council resolutions. We underline that these resolutions and the measures they contain – sanctions and other restrictive measures – are not new. On the contrary, these resolutions were previously agreed by the Security Council and lifted in light of Iran’s commitments under the JCPoA. However, Iran has chosen not to abide by those commitments. In accordance with Resolution 2231, we will continue to strive to diplomatically resolve the issue of Iran’s significant non-performance. We will use the 30-day period to continue to engage with Iran on our extension offer, or on any serious diplomatic efforts to restore Iran’s compliance with its commitments.
“ We recall that if the UNSC does not adopt within 30 days a resolution to continue the lifting of UNSC resolutions on Iran, six Security Council resolutions, including on sanctions, will be restored.”
Observations
We believe the public has a right to ask why it has taken so many years for our political leaders to come to their senses. The simple fact is that if Iran were to develop a nuclear bomb, the consequences for the region would be disastrous. It must be remembered that this area of the world is key for the supply of much of the world’s oil and gas. Net Zero or Not Zero, oil still matters a great deal to the economy of the United Kingdom.
Not only that, but the present arguments about Israel and Gaza would pale into significance if Iran were to have the ability to manufacture its own nuclear bombs. Israel would be left with little choice but to strike first – and it would. The entire region would be destabilised, whatever happened.
The Brexit Facts4EU.Org team have published on this subject more times than we can remember, yet for most of that time we felt like lone voices. Yesterday, almost 10 years after we started, the three Foreign Secretaries of the UK, France and Germany finally vindicated our position. The only problem they might now have is the positions of Russia and China
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[ Sources: The FCDO | EU Commission | White House | IAEA ] Politicians and journalists can contact us for details, as ever.
Brexit Facts4EU.Org, Fri 29 Aug 2025
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