The European Troika countries—the UK, France, and Germany -  on Thursday began a 30-day process to renew UN sanctions against Iran over its nuclear program, which is likely to increase tensions two months after Israel and the United States bombed Iran, according to a letter sent by the Eurotroika  to the UN Security Council, seen by Reuters. 

The European Troika countries noted in their letter that they had decided to launch the so-called snapback mechanism before they lost the opportunity in mid-October to reinstate sanctions against Tehran that were lifted under the 2015 nuclear agreement with world powers.

They have held several rounds of talks with Iran since Israel and the United States struck its territory in mid-June, seeking to agree on a delay in the mechanism's activation, but felt that Tuesday's talks in Geneva did not produce enough tangible commitments from Iran. 

Representatives of the European Troika are now insisting on accusations that Iran has violated the 2015 agreement aimed at preventing Tehran from developing nuclear weapons. 

The United States, which was a party to the deal, withdrew from it under President Donald Trump in 2018 and held unsuccessful indirect talks with Tehran earlier this year.

Iran had previously warned of a “tough response” if sanctions were reinstated. The European Troika has proposed extending the sanctions for a full six months to allow for serious negotiations if Iran resumes full-scale UN inspections, which will also aim to identify Iran's large stockpile of enriched uranium that has not been inspected since the June strikes, and enters into negotiations with the United States.