Three European countries that were part of the initial 2015 Iran nuclear deal today launched a

process to reimpose sweeping sanctions on Iran lifted a decade ago as part of the agreement

with the Islamic Republic. France, Germany, and the UK accused Iran of breaking its commitments

from that deal, starting a 30-day clock that could end with Iran's economy further squeezed.

Its arms deals halted and its foreign assets frozen.

Nick Schifrin is following this force.

So Nick, explain why these European countries are sanctioning Iran and why this is called a snapback.

It's called a snap back because the idea is to snap back those sanctions that you just mentioned

that were lifted on Iran back in the 2015 nuclear deal. Of course, President Trump withdrew

from the deal back in 2018, but Germany, France, and the United Kingdom did not withdraw from

the deal. And that gave them the ability today to send this letter about Iran that judges

Iran, quote, to be insignificant,

non-performance of its commitments under the nuclear deal. The Europeans say Iran, one, exceeded

the caps on its uranium, uranium stockpile or nuclear fuel. That includes uranium enriched to 60%

one step below weapons grade that the Europeans said today, quote,

has no credible civilian justification.

Number two, the letter also says Iran restarted, prohibited enrichment.

And it says Iran, quote, cease to allow nuclear inspectors from required verification monitoring

to the extent that the UN's nuclear watchdog is not able to provide

assurance of the peaceful nature of Iran's nuclear program.

In the last few days and weeks, Jeff, European officials made it very clear to Iran that

they had to negotiate directly with the U.S. They had to allow inspectors all over the country, including those

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