Iran has pulled its ambassadors from France, Germany and the United Kingdom, escalating tensions just hours before the United Nations reimposes sanctions on Tehran.

The recall came after the three European countries, known collectively as the E3, set in motion a 30-day process to trigger the 'snapback' mechanism in late August, accusing Iran of failing to uphold its commitments under the 2015 nuclear deal (the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, or JCPOA).

President Masoud Pezeshkian slammed the move, rejecting a US offer to suspend sanctions for three months if Iran surrendered all its enriched uranium. 'Unacceptable,' he said flatly, as his government braced for penalties to take effect on Saturday night in New York (Sunday 0000 GMT).

What exactly is snapback?

The snapback clause was

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