UN Secretary General explains how to avoid restoring sanctions against Iran

UN Secretary-General António Guterres called on Iran and Western countries to intensify diplomatic efforts to prevent the so-called snapback of international sanctions on Tehran initiated by E3 last month.

According to him, building trust through dialogue is essential.

"I think there is still time to avoid it.  My appeal to Iran and to the other Powers is to use diplomacy and to create the conditions of trust in order to be able to avoid it," António Guterres said.

The UN Secretary General said he has been in contact with both sides and aimed to facilitate discussions, but it all depends on the diplomatic efforts that are made in order to re-establish the trust that is needed for the snapback to be avoided.

Last month, France, Germany, and the United Kingdom triggered the UN snapback sanctions mechanism in a partly lapsed 2015 international nuclear deal with Iran. The move initiated a 30-day window for diplomacy before sanctions are due to take effect on October 18.