A resolution calling on the United Kingdom, France, and Germany (E3) to initiate the snapback of sanctions on Iran under United Nations Security Council Resolution 2231 (2015).

Bill: 119-sres-81
Sponsor: full_name: Sen. Ricketts, Pete [R-NE]
Introduced: 2025-02-13
Policy area: International Affairs
Latest action: action_date: 2025-02-13
text: Referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations. (text: CR S982)

Summaries:
action_date: 2025-02-13
action_desc: Introduced in Senate
text: <p>The resolution urges the E3 (the United Kingdom, France, and Germany) to invoke the snapback of United Nations (UN) sanctions against Iran under UN Security Council Resolution 2231 before the option expires on October 18, 2025.&nbsp;</p><p>This resolution also (1) recognizes that Iran's possession of a nuclear weapon would threaten U.S. and global security, (2) condemns Iran's repeated violations of certain international commitments related to nuclear weapons, and (3) reaffirms that the United States maintains the right to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons.</p>

tv_txt: III 119th CONGRESS 1st Session S. RES. 81 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES February 13, 2025 Mr. Ricketts (for himself, Mr. Cornyn , Mr. Barrasso , Mrs. Capito , Mrs. Blackburn , Mr. Justice , Mr. Hagerty , Mr. Sheehy , Mr. Sullivan , Ms. Lummis , Mr. Crapo , Mrs. Fischer , Mr. Cruz , and Mr. Young ) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations RESOLUTION Calling on the United Kingdom, France, and Germany (E3) to initiate the snapback of sanctions on Iran under United Nations Security Council Resolution 2231 (2015).

Whereas, on July 15, 2015, the P5+1 (the United States, the United Kingdom, France, the People’s Republic of China, the Russian Federation, and Germany), the European Union, and the Islamic Republic of Iran finalized the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA); Whereas the JCPOA required the Government of Iran to implement constraints on its uranium enrichment and heavy water nuclear reactor programs, as well as allow the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to monitor compliance with the agreement; Whereas, on July 20, 2015, the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) passed Resolution 2231 (UNSCR 2231), which endorsed the JCPOA and provided for the termination of all previous UNSC resolutions targeting Iran’s nuclear program (1696, 1737, 1747, 1803 1835, and 1929), while maintaining United Nation’s arms restrictions on Iran for 5 years and United Nation’s prohibitions on Iran’s missile and drone activity for 8 years; Whereas, pursuant to the JCPOA, Iran received significant sanctions relief from the previous sanctions imposed by the European Union, the United States, and previous UNSC resolutions; Whereas Iran used this sanctions relief to fund its terrorist proxies, regional aggression, and its expansion of its ballistic missile program; Whereas, on May 8, 2018, President Donald J. Trump announced the United States was ceasing its participation in the JCPOA and reimposing sanctions against Iran that had been previously waived; Whereas President Trump’s successful maximum pressure campaign imposed significant financial costs on Iran’s regime to alter its course of malign activities and ensure that Iranian bad acts are no longer rewarded ; Whereas, Iran has repeatedly violated the terms of the JCPOA and UNSCR 2231, including by— (1) lifting the cap on its stockpile of uranium; (2) increasing its enrichment activities to 60 percent purity, expanding its enrichment capabilities; (3) resuming its activity at prohibited nuclear facilities; and (4) preventing the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) from being able to effectively monitor its nuclear activities; Whereas, Iran repeatedly violated UNSCR 2231’s restrictions on ballistic missile testing and development, as well as United Nations-imposed and internationally binding arms export and import embargoes; Whereas UNSCR 2231 includes a formal mechanism for a participant state of the JCPOA, if it believes there has been significant non-performance of commitments under the JCPOA by Iran, to trigger a process that would require the UNSC to snapback all United Nation sanctions on Iran that has been lifted pursuant to UNSCR 2231; Whereas, on September 14, 2024, in a joint statement, the United States and United Kingdom acknowledged publicly that Iran’s nuclear program has never been more advanced and posed a clear threat to regional and global peace and security ; Whereas, in June and November of 2024, in efforts led by France, Germany, the United Kingdom (E3), and the United States, the IAEA’s Board of Governors voted to censure Iran for non-compliance with its obligations under the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, done at Washington, London, and Moscow July 1, 1968 (commonly referred to as the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty or NPT ); Whereas, on December 9, 2024, the E3 sent a letter to the United Nations Security Council stating, We reiterate our determination to use all diplomatic tools to prevent Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon, including using snapback if necessary. ; Whereas, on January 6, 2025, President of France Emmanuel Macron said the acceleration of Iran's nuclear program was bringing us very close to the breaking point and said, We will have to ask ourselves whether to use the mechanism for re-establishing sanctions. We are ready to do so if the question arises. ; Whereas, on January 23, 2025, the Director General of the IAEA, Rafael Grossi, said that Iran has increased production of 60 percent enriched uranium from 7 kilograms to over 30 kilograms per month, and currently possess about 200 kilograms, which if enriched to 90 percent would amount to at least 5 nuclear weapons; and Whereas, under UNSCR 2231, the resolution, including the snapback mechanism, terminates 10 years after Adoption Day for the JCPOA, which will be October 18, 2025: Now, therefore, be it

That the Senate— (1) recognizes that Iran’s possession of a nuclear weapon would threaten not only the security of the United States, but global security at large, including United States allies and partners in Europe and the Middle East; (2) condemns the Government of Iran’s flagrant and repeated violations of commitments it made under the JCPOA and its international obligations under UNSCR 2231; (3) condemns the Russian Federation and the People’s Republic of China, who remain participants in the JCPOA, for their role in supporting Iran’s malign activities; (4) reaffirms that the United States Government maintains the right to take any necessary measures to prevent the Government of Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons; (5) supports the imposition and enforcement of robust sanctions on Iran for its nuclear and missile programs and on entities and individuals involved in these programs to deter further proliferation efforts; and (6) urges the E3 to invoke the snapback of United Nations sanctions against Iran under UNSCR 2231 as soon as possible before the option expires on October 18, 2025.