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.
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.
[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 81 Introduced in Senate (IS)]
<DOC>
119th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. RES. 81
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).
_______________________________________________________________________
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
Resolved, 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.
<all>
Introduced in Senate
Referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations. (text: CR S982)
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