Europeans take first step to punish Iran over nuclear pact breaches
European powers take their first step towards punishing Iran for breaking its nuclear agreement, triggering the deal's mechanism to resolve breaches.
The foreign ministers of Britain, France and Germany, plus the foreign affairs chief of the European Union, say in a statement that Iran is "pursuing activities inconsistent with its commitments" under the deal, known as the JCPoA.
"These compliance issues must be addressed within the framework of the JCPoA, and a Joint Commission should be convened urgently," the statement says.
Convening a joint commission of signatories - the Europeans plus Russia and China - is the first step in a process foreseen in the agreement that could eventually lead to a "snapback", bringing back the international sanctions lifted by the deal.
