Russia to Ensure Iran Sanctions Snapback Mechanism Not Automatic

Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov says Russia will make sure that the mechanism of anti-Iran sanctions snapback will not be automatic and will be subject to a vote in the UN Security Council.

VIENNA (Sputnik) — Russia will make sure that the mechanism of anti-Iran sanctions snapback will not be automatic and will be subject to a vote in the UN Security Council, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said Thursday.

"We will be very strictly observing and will ensure that a possible mechanism of sanctions renewal includes nothing that could imply automatic return of the [anti-Iran] sanctions without a respective procedure in the UN Security Council and without a vote in the Security Council," Ryabkov said.

The P5+1 group, comprising Russia, the United States, China, France, the United Kingdom and Germany, and Iran have been trying to work out a deal ensuring the peaceful nature of Tehran’s nuclear program and lifting the sanctions.

In April, Iran and the P5+1 group worked out a political framework agreement on the Iranian nuclear program. June 30 was the initial deadline for the negotiators to reach a comprehensive deal, but it was extended for another week.

The sticking points between the negotiators are said to be the timing of sanction relief and monitoring mechanisms.