Britain mulls sanctions as Iran nuclear deal falters

Meeting of G7 foreign ministers warned that talks to restrict rogue nation’s atomic ambitions failing

‘We have already had good discussions with Israel to ensure that Iran does not acquire a nuclear weapon’

BRITAIN could impose new sanctions on Iran if the regime fails to row back from demands that have led to an impasse in talks over its nuclear programme, The Sunday Telegraph understands.

The UK is understood to be considering a range of options, including a socalled snapback to severe economic restrictions on Tehran.

The disclosure comes after Annalena Baerbock, the German foreign minister, warned last night that the talks are close to collapsing.

British officials are concerned that Tehran has been speeding ahead with its nuclear programme while stringing out the talks. Israel is so concerned about the situation that it is reportedly drawing up plans for an attack.

Ms Baerbock told reporters on the sidelines of the G7 foreign ministers’ meeting in Liverpool that there was no progress in sight on the deal and that “time is running out”.

Amichai Stein, a correspondent for Israeli state broadcaster Kan, also quoted her as saying that “everything has been taken off the table”.

Ebrahim Raisi, the Iranian president, said yesterday that Tehran was serious in its nuclear talks with world powers in Vienna. But its top negotiator said important disagreements remained.

“Several points of difference have remained which require decision-making at the high-level and these are still on the table unresolved,” Ali Bagheri Kani told state-run Press TV.

The G7 meeting is taking place as negotiators in Vienna try to revive an ailing international deal that seeks to limit Iran’s nuclear ambitions in return for loosened economic sanctions.

In Liverpool, US, German, French and British diplomats gathered to discuss next steps. Robert Malley, the US special envoy on Iran, also stopped in the city on his way to Vienna.

Liz Truss, the Foreign Secretary, warned this week that the Vienna talks are “the last chance for Iran to sign up” again to the deal.

It comes as Israeli media reported plans for a possible attack on its increasingly isolated enemy.

Citing a senior diplomatic source, The Jerusalem Post reported that Benny Gantz, the Israeli defence minister, presented a timeline for attacking Iran to US officials, and that he received no pushback.

Mr Gantz met Lloyd Austin, the US defence secretary, and Antony Blinken, the secretary of state, on Thursday, with conversations centred on Iran.

Asked by reporters if the US was discussing a “plan B” with Israel if talks with Iran fail, and if that included military options, Ned Price, the state department spokesman, replied: “I wouldn’t want to speak to what we might be contemplating if diplomacy isn’t viable in the near term. But we are discussing those alternatives with our close allies, and that includes with the Israelis.

“We have already had good discussions with the Israelis about the path forward and how we can work together to ensure that Iran is never able to acquire a nuclear weapon.”

Jerusalem consulted with Washington on two previous strikes on Iran, one against a missile base and one against a factory building nuclear centrifuges, The New York Times reported on Friday.

It added that two months ago, Joe Biden asked Jake Sullivan, his national security adviser, to review the Pentagon’s plans to attack Iran if diplomatic efforts fail, as a signal to Tehran that it is running out of patience.

But there are tensions, with Israel reportedly concerned that Washington will compromise too much in order to revive the deal.