US initiates countdown to restore UN sanctions on Iran

By Michael Hernandez

WASHINGTON (AA) - The US has formally initiated the process to re-instate UN sanctions on Iran lifted as part of Tehran's 2015 nuclear deal with world powers, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said Thursday.

Pompeo, who is expected to brief reporters at the UN's headquarters in New York later in the day, posted to Twitter a picture of himself presenting a letter to UN Security Council President Dian Triansyah Djani formally notifying the council of the action.

The deal's participants dispute the US's standing to trigger the snapback mechanism because of President Donald Trump's decision to unilaterally exit the agreement in May 2018.

The notification delivered by Pompeo starts a 30-day countdown for the sanctions to be reimposed.