Tehran anxiety grows as Europe moots sanctions snapback

As Congress works through the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), two prominent Democrats have pushed for legally binding disclosures related to the June 22 strikes on three Iranian nuclear sites.

Representative Ro Khanna (D-CA), who frequently crosses partisan lines to vote with Republicans, introduced an amendment requiring the Department of Defense to disclose all costs associated with the strikes. It passed on Wednesday.

“The American people deserve to know how much we spent, and how much our increased troop and force deployment to the Middle East will cost taxpayers,” Khanna wrote on X.

Another Democrat and more strident critic of President Donald Trump, Representative Jerry Nadler (D-NY), proposed an amendment calling for a full battle damage assessment (BDA) of the strikes.

His proposal would have required the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and the Secretary of Defense to deliver the assessment within 90 days. It did not pass amid Republican opposition.

“The Republican majority is refusing to consider my amendment to the Defense funding bill on Trump’s failed strike on Iran and the disastrous consequences of his withdrawal from the Iran Deal. What are they trying to hide?” Nadler wrote on X, referring to a 2015 international deal from which Trump withdrew in his first term.

Lawmakers reacted swiftly to the President’s surprise announcement of the strikes last month. Republican hawks largely celebrated the move, while many Democrats voiced strong criticism.

An initial Pentagon assessment suggested the attacks had only set Iran's nuclear program back by months, but subsequent analysis released by the Central Intelligence Agency said it would take Tehran years to recover.

The United States attacked the Isfahan, Natanz and Fordow nuclear sites with long-range bombers and submarine-launched missiles on June 22.

Trump called the strikes "the most perfect military maneuver that anybody's seen — probably in 50 years," in a White House appearance alongside Bahrain's crown prince.

“We knocked out their entire potential nuclear capacity. And it was obliterated," he added. "It turned out it was more than obliterated. They can't go back.”

An initial Pentagon assessment suggested the attacks had only set Iran's nuclear program back by months, but subsequent analysis released by the Central Intelligence Agency said it would take Tehran years to recover.

In the first public remarks by a Persian Gulf leader apparently praising the attacks, Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa - who also serves as Prime Minister - said, “I definitely believe that the volatility of the situation has been reduced.”

On the possible resumption of talks, Al Khalifa added, “I believe the ball is in their court. That is the true reality of where we stand today. They are the ones that stand to benefit from a negotiation.”

Following a June 24 ceasefire which paused the 12-day conflict between Iran and Israel, Trump questioned whether further nuclear diplomacy was needed given the scale of damage to Iranian nuclear sites.

European countries have called for a diplomatic solution to the nuclear impasse while Iranian officials have not ruled out further talks.

“They want to negotiate,” Trump added on Wednesday. “They want to negotiate badly. We're in no rush. We could have made a deal. They should have made a deal — and then we bombed the hell out of their various places.”

Hours before the White House meeting, the United States and Bahrain signed an agreement to enhance cooperation on the development of a civil nuclear program.

Iran’s nuclear program has long been a source of unease for its Persian Gulf neighbors. A Shi’ite-majority island kingdom ruled by a Western-backed Sunni monarchy, Bahrain has long viewed Tehran’s regional policies with suspicion. It also hosts major US and British military bases.

“This is an important signing. It serves as the first step toward deeper civil nuclear cooperation — an example that the United States is prepared to be a partner with any nation on earth that wants to pursue a civil nuclear program,” he said.

Bahrain's activities, Rubio added, are “clearly not geared toward weaponization or threatening the security of its neighbors.”

A Shi'ite majority island kingdom ruled by a Western-backed Sunni monarchy, Bahrain has long been suspicious of Tehran's policies in the region. It is host to major US and British military bases.

“I want to restate our deep appreciation and backing for President Donald Trump's tireless work toward achieving ceasefires, building confidence, and ultimately creating a secure region where all its peoples can live in peace and prosperity,” Bahraini Foreign Minister Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani said.

Iran’s nuclear program has long been a source of unease for its Persian Gulf neighbors. US President Donald Trump started talks with Iran in April, giving a 60-day deadline to reach a deal. On the 61st day, Israel launched a surprise military campaign against Iran.

A June 24 ceasefire paused the 12-day war, which was capped by US attacks on Iranian nuclear sites.

The United States had demanded that Iran end domestic uranium enrichment but said Tehran could pursue a civilian nuclear program.

The European Union has previously suggested that if no nuclear agreement is reached with Iran, they may trigger the resumption of United Nations sanctions.

“When the US uses negotiations as a tool to deceive Iran and to cover for sudden military attacks by the Zionist regime, talks cannot continue as before,” members of parliament said in a joint statement read during an open session by MP Ahmad Naderi, according to state media.

While the tone of the statement points to demands such as security assurances, respect for sovereignty, and a fundamental change in US conduct, lawmakers did not outline any specific or actionable preconditions.

The declaration came one day after US President Donald Trump said he was in “no rush” to resume talks and pointed to last month’s airstrikes on Iranian nuclear facilities as leverage. “They would like to talk. I’m in no rush to talk because we obliterated their site,” Trump said Tuesday.

Parliament says no new talks without guarantees

The lawmakers said any new diplomatic engagement must be conditional and guided by Iran’s top leadership. “Preconditions must be established, and until they are fully met, no new negotiations should take place,” they said.

They accused the US of deliberately using the appearance of diplomacy to enable Israeli military action and warned that Iran would no longer engage under the same terms. “The American president, while pretending to favor diplomacy, authorized a direct attack on our nuclear infrastructure,” the statement said.

Lawmakers framed the issue as part of a larger campaign to undermine Iran’s sovereignty. “The goal is to weaken and divide the country,” they said. “But our response must be unity under the commands of the Supreme Leader.”

Iran faces pressure as Europe moves toward snapback

The warning came amid growing pressure from the US and its European allies, who on Monday set an end-of-August deadline for Iran to return to the nuclear deal or face the reimposition of full UN sanctions under the JCPOA’s snapback mechanism, Axios reported.

The snapback mechanism, created under UN Security Council Resolution 2231—which endorsed the 2015 nuclear deal—allows any party to the agreement to reimpose sanctions if Iran is found non-compliant. If no resolution is passed within 30 days to continue sanctions relief, all prior UN measures automatically come back into force.

The US, France, Britain, and Germany said Iran could avoid snapback only by providing new assurances over its nuclear activities. A US official told Axios that Trump was frustrated by Iran’s refusal to return to talks and wants any future discussions to be direct.

“The snapback is leverage,” the official said. “And Witkoff has told the Iranians clearly: no intermediaries this time.”

Parliament defends law limiting IAEA access

In the statement, Iranian lawmakers also defended their recent vote to restrict cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency, saying it was a response to security threats following the June airstrikes.

“The Parliament of Iran has voted for a halt to collaboration with the IAEA until the safety and security of our nuclear activities can be guaranteed,” the lawmakers said.

Tehran says it has not ended cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency despite the new legislation. Instead, future coordination with inspectors will be managed by Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said earlier this month.

“Iran remains committed to the NPT and its Safeguards Agreement,” Araghchi wrote on X, rejecting reports of a full suspension as “fake news.”

He said the shift in procedure was necessary due to rising security concerns. “Under the new law, all cooperation with the IAEA must go through the Supreme National Security Council,” he wrote.

Lawmakers target IAEA and Western states

Iranian lawmakers accused the IAEA of legitimizing military aggression by sharing sensitive information with hostile governments. They also criticized Germany and other European states for backing US and Israeli actions.

“The IAEA and its partners must understand that until Iran is assured of no further violations, no new information will be handed to spies and aggressors,” the statement said.

The IAEA said inspectors remain in the country and await clarification from Tehran. But tensions have continued to rise, with a senior Iranian judicial official recently threatening the IAEA chief with trial in absentia.

Iran signals no retreat from enrichment

The Pentagon said last month’s strikes had degraded Iran’s nuclear program by up to two years. “We have degraded their program by one to two years, at least,” Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell said.

Araghchi confirmed “serious and heavy damage” to the Fordow facility but said Iran would not halt enrichment. “Enrichment is a matter of national pride and glory,” he said.

Lawmakers echoed that stance. “We will not allow anyone to use the language of pressure and expect submission,” they said. “Diplomacy is not surrender—it is another front in the war.”

“They would like to talk. I’m in no rush to talk because we obliterated their site,” Trump told reporters.

The US president made the remarks shortly after returning from Pittsburgh, adding that Washington remained in control of the diplomatic timeline.

Iranian lawmakers responded Wednesday by urging the government to set firm preconditions before entering any new negotiations with the United States.

“When the US uses negotiations as a tool to deceive Iran and to cover for sudden military attacks by the Zionist regime, talks cannot continue as before,” a statement read during parliament’s open session said, according to state media.

The declaration called for a fundamental shift in Iran’s approach to diplomatic engagement. “Preconditions must be established, and until they are fully met, no new negotiations should take place,” the statement said.

Axios reported Tuesday that Steve Witkoff, Trump’s special envoy for Middle East affairs, had conveyed a message to Iranian officials: any future discussions must take place directly, without intermediaries.

“Witkoff has made it clear to the Iranians that any future talks must be direct, rather than mediated by a third party, to avoid misunderstandings and expedite the process,” the outlet quoted a senior US official as saying.

Iran’s foreign ministry has not confirmed any progress toward such talks. Spokesman Esmail Baghaei said Monday that no time or location had been agreed for a meeting between Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and Witkoff.

“So long as we are not assured of the effectiveness of diplomacy and the negotiation process, we will not enter such a process,” Baghaei said.