(Illustrative photo: Shutterstock)

The 2015 nuclear agreement’s snapback mechanism allows any P5+1 country that signed the agreement to call for a reimposition of UN sanctions if Iran fails to abide by the agreement. The P5+1 include Russia, China, Germany, Britain, France, and the US. 

UN Security Council members will have 10 days to decide whether or not to approve the snapback. If the UNSC cannot reach a decision, sanctions on Iran will automatically be activated 30 days after the snapback was proposed.

Pompeo said in a letter sent to Indonesia, the UNSC Chair for August, that Iran has not abided by the 2015 nuclear deal, from which the US withdrew in 2018.