Lammy warns ‘ball is in Iran’s court’ over nuclear programme deal
Foreign Secretary says Tehran continues to fail to produce 'credible assurances regarding the nature of the programme'
David Lammy has warned “the ball is in Iran’s court” after the United Kingdom, France, and Germany said they are prepared to reimpose sanctions if Tehran fails to agree to a nuclear deal by the end of August.
A letter sent to the UN, addressed to Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and the Security Council, confirmed the E3’s readiness to trigger the “snapback” mechanism if diplomatic efforts stall.
Iran has been at the centre of a fragile ceasefire with the US and Israel but in July Lammy told the Commons Tehran could not assume Israel would not strike its sites again in the event of a failure to end the uncertainty about its nuclear programme.
The Foreign Secretary told Jewish News:”The UK has long been clear that Iran’s nuclear programme is a threat to international peace and security, with its failure to produce credible assurances regarding the nature of the programme.
“Alongside French and German counterparts, we have worked continuously towards a diplomatic solution to address these concerns. We have offered Iran a limited extension to UN sanctions relief subject to clear conditions being met, including Iran resuming negotiations with the US and ensuring full cooperation with the IAEA in line with the Non-Proliferation Treaty.
“We have set out our position clearly to members of the UN Security Council, outlining our diplomatic efforts and further measures, should Iran reject our offer.
“Iran still has the choice to resume diplomacy, and we urge Iran to do so.
“The ball is now in Iran’s court.”
The Board of Deputies president Phil Rosenberg had written to the Foreign Secretary last month urging him to consider reimposing snapback sanctions on Iran, if Tehran continued to defy international demands in relation to its nuclear programme.
Israel launched massive airstrikes on Iran in June, during a 12 day long conflict, ended after the US carried out strikes on a nuclear site.
Iran launched missiles and drones against Israel, and while most were intercepted others caused significant damage.
The E3 met with Iranian representatives in Istanbul on July 26, offering Tehran a potential delay in the resumption of UN sanctions if it complied with legal obligations.
Lammy signed the letter to the UN with French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot and German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul.
The E3 said their offer of an extension to the negotiations “remained unanswered by Iran”.
“We have made it clear that if Iran is not willing to reach a diplomatic solution before the end of August 2025, or does not seize the opportunity of an extension, the E3 are prepared to trigger the snapback mechanism,” the letter said.
They added they were committed to using “all diplomatic tools” to ensure Iran does not develop a nuclear weapon – something Iran has denied intending to do.
Last month, Iran said it was prepared for further talks but only once sanctions already in place were lifted and its right to a civilian nuclear programme was agreed.
Sanctions on Iran’s nuclear programme were previously lifted in 2015 after Iran signed a nuclear deal with the E3, the US, Russia and China, agreeing limits on its nuclear operations and to allow international inspectors entry to its nuclear sites. The deal is due to expire in October.
The US withdrew from the deal in 2018 during President Donald Trump’s first term, with the leader saying it did too little to stop Iran from creating a pathway to a nuclear bomb.
With its withdrawal, all US sanctions were re-imposed on Iran.
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