Maxar Technologies via CNN Newsource

By Jennifer Hansler

(CNN) — France, Germany and the United Kingdom have begun the process to reimpose UN sanctions on Iran over its nuclear program.

The triggering of the snapback sanctions, a move that the United States welcomed on Thursday, comes as diplomatic efforts to restrain Iran’s growing nuclear program have faltered. Tehran has condemned the move and warned there could be consequences for reimplementing sanctions.

The “E3” countries notified the UN Security Council Thursday that they were triggering the snapback mechanism, which was included as part of the 2015 Iran nuclear deal.

Iran has increasingly breached the nuclear deal after President Donald Trump withdrew the US from the agreement, called the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action

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