Araghchi to EU: Europe Has No Legal Authority to Trigger Snapback

WANA (Aug 29) – Seyed Abbas Araghchi, Foreign Minister of the Islamic Republic of Iran, in an official and documented letter addressed to Ms. Kaja Kallas, High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Coordinator of the Joint Commission of the JCPOA, strongly objected to the contents of the EU’s letter dated August 18, 2025, calling it “selective, incomplete, and ignorant of the fundamental facts of the JCPOA and UN Security Council Resolution 2231.”

In this letter, which was simultaneously circulated to the UN Secretary-General, the rotating President of the Security Council, and all Council members, Araghchi recalled the “chronic negligence” of the three European states (France, Germany, and the United Kingdom) in fulfilling their obligations. He stressed that these states have “no legal authority or standing” to invoke the dispute settlement mechanism or trigger the automatic reimposition of sanctions. He further noted that this position has also been formally supported by Russia and China, as reflected in their official explanatory notes submitted to the Security Council on August 11 and 19, 2025.

Referring to his previous communications dated July 22 and August 22, 2025, Araghchi underlined that Iran was in fact the first party to the JCPOA to activate the dispute settlement mechanism, in reaction to the U.S. withdrawal from the deal and Europe’s failure to deliver on its commitments. He stressed that contrary to the EU’s claim that this mechanism was limited to two instances in 2020, Iran had already invoked it in a letter dated May 10, 2018, and in Joint Commission meetings held on May 25 and July 6 of the same year—well before Tehran initiated its remedial measures.

Araghchi emphasized that Iran had pursued the mechanism “in good faith and to its full extent,” and was therefore entitled to adopt legitimate remedial measures. He described the EU-3’s 2020 attempt to activate the mechanism as “unjustified, unacceptable, and essentially a counter-remedial measure against Iran’s lawful remedial steps,” adding that it was never taken to its full conclusion.

He also dismissed the EU’s portrayal of full compliance with its JCPOA obligations as “baseless,” noting that Europe had not only failed to implement the so-called “Transition Day” commitments of October 18, 2023, but had also expanded sanctions on Iranian civilian individuals and entities, while reimposing restrictions on Iranian airlines, shipping lines, vessels, and ports. Araghchi stressed that the eleven additional commitments pledged by Europe after the July 6, 2018, Foreign Ministers’ meeting also remain unfulfilled.

In another section of the letter, the Iranian Foreign Minister described the INSTEX mechanism as “a symbolic and ineffective initiative” that never led to any meaningful volume of trade. He further attributed the failure of the Vienna negotiations in 2021 and 2022 to “U.S. obstinacy, Washington’s domestic political considerations, and the EU-3’s insistence on linking the talks to unrelated issues.”

Araghchi also criticized the EU’s silence regarding “illegal U.S. and Israeli attacks on Iran’s nuclear facilities”—clear violations of the UN Charter and international law—arguing that European political and military support for such actions further undermines the EU’s neutrality. He strongly rejected remarks by Ms. Kallas suggesting the “end of Iran’s nuclear program,” calling them “a denial of the JCPOA’s fundamental principles” and damaging to the EU’s role as an objective coordinator.

In conclusion, Araghchi warned that any attempt by the EU-3 to revive the Security Council resolutions that were annulled by Resolution 2231 would be “invalid and ineffective,” stressing that these resolutions must expire on schedule, by October 18, 2025. He urged the EU to refrain from “selective interpretations” and instead work to facilitate “genuine diplomacy and multilateralism.”

The Iranian Foreign Minister reiterated Tehran’s readiness to resume “fair and balanced negotiations,” on the condition that the other parties demonstrate “seriousness and goodwill” and refrain from actions that could “undermine the chances of success.”

Iran–Europe Nuclear Talks. Social Media / WANA News Agency