Baghaei: Europe Triggered Snapback at U.S. and Israel’s Request
WANA (Sep 02) – Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Esmail Baghaei said recent media reports indicate that Europeans, at the request of the United States and the Israeli regime, have taken steps to activate the snapback mechanism.
At the beginning of his press conference on Tuesday, Baghaei condemned the assassination of Yemen’s prime minister and several of the country’s ministers by the Israeli regime. He called the act a terrorist crime, a violation of international law and humanitarian principles, and expressed solidarity with the people of Yemen.
UN and the International Community Negligent on Gaza
Referring to the continuation of crimes by the Israeli regime in Gaza, he said: “Unfortunately, the United Nations and the international community, because of the ongoing support of the United States for these crimes, have failed to take any effective action to stop them and to implement justice.”
President’s Trip to China
Baghaei also noted that President Pezeshkian is attending the Shanghai summit in China, and his program during the trip will continue until Wednesday.
The Shanghai Summit is a Key Opportunity to Strengthen Multilateralism and Regional Peace
WANA (Aug 31) – Iran’s president, ahead of his departure to China for the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit, described the gathering as a pivotal moment to deepen regional cooperation and counter unilateralism. Speaking at Tehran’s Mehrabad Airport on Sunday (August 31), Masoud Pezeshkian said: “The SCO member states represent nearly 2.5 billion people […]
Europeans Acting Under U.S. Direction
The spokesperson described the statement of the U.S. Secretary of State welcoming the activation of the snapback mechanism by the three European countries against Iran as “disgraceful.” He said: “In my view, this statement was disgraceful, because it explicitly declared that the action of the three European countries in this regard was carried out in line with the directives of the U.S. president.”
He continued: “Recent media reports also show that the Europeans undertook this action at the request of the United States and the Zionist regime.”
“Hypocritical” European Claims on JCPOA
On European claims that they fulfilled their JCPOA commitments while Iran did not, Baghaei said: “This is a hypocritical and ill-intentioned claim.”
Answering a question about the U.S. Secretary of State’s statement linking the snapback to possible negotiations with Iran under certain conditions, Baghaei said: “Essentially, raising such conditions shows bad faith in a diplomatic approach.”
Iran Will Respond to European Troika’s Illegal Snapback Move
WANA (Aug 28) – Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi rejected as “illegal and baseless” the decision by France, Germany, and the UK to activate the so-called snapback mechanism under the 2015 nuclear deal, warning that Tehran will respond appropriately to safeguard its national rights and interests. According to the Foreign Ministry, Araghchi made […]
He added, “With regard to the U.S., we must keep in mind that we are in a diplomatic process while facing attacks from America and Israel. We cannot move forward ignoring previous experiences. The U.S. has disrupted diplomatic processes several times, including by withdrawing from the JCPOA, or by allowing the Zionist regime to attack Iran in coordination with the U.S. during negotiations. These developments show that America never had goodwill from the beginning.”
He further said that the U.S. Secretary of State’s welcome for the European action, and his description of it as fulfilling the orders of the U.S. president, proves that from the start of entering the White House, American officials sought to destroy the JCPOA and impose illegal pressure on Iran.
Gaza Developments as Genocide
In response to a question about U.S. plans to displace the people of Gaza, Baghaei said: “What is happening in Gaza is a continuation of genocide. Making 90 percent of Gaza uninhabitable and imposing famine is intended to expel the residents from their homeland.”
He added, “Any individual, country, or entity that cooperates with this conspiracy and the plan to annihilate the Palestinian people will be considered an accomplice to the crime. Human rights bodies and international organizations have a heavy responsibility. What is being discussed in the media is nothing but the continuation of a plan designed by the Zionist regime, with the support of the U.S. and Western countries, and implemented over the past two years.”
The new mural in Tehran’s Palestine Square about the Israeli army’s casualties in Gaza and Netanyahu’s power-seeking. Social media/ WANA News Agency
No Decision Yet on IAEA Talks
On Iran’s talks with the IAEA, Baghaei said: “So far, no decision has been made about continuing the two rounds of negotiations with the Agency. Certainly, the step by the three European countries will show its effects in other areas. Their action had no legal basis. Two rounds of talks with the Agency have been held so far, but no clear or final result has been achieved.”
He added: “The entry of two IAEA inspectors was only for the loading of fuel at the Bushehr nuclear reactor, which had to be done under regulations and norms. At present, no inspectors are in Iran. Contacts with the Agency continue at the level of representation, but regarding drafting a framework for cooperation after the new developments and the attack on Iran’s nuclear facilities, no final decision has been made yet, and the matter is still under consideration within the framework of parliament’s resolution.”
The Foreign Ministry spokesperson continued with a report on the President’s trip to China to attend the Shanghai summit: “One of the most important developments in this meeting was the resolution of this summit. This resolution is important in various aspects, and what was more important for us in this regard was the condemnation of the U.S. and Israeli attack on Iran and the emphasis on UN Security Council Resolution 2231 at this meeting.”
Three Scenarios for Breaking the Deadlock in Iran–U.S. Negotiations
WANA (Aug 23) – Iran–U.S. nuclear talks have once again entered a complicated phase—one that, according to experts, has become even more difficult to resolve following recent regional developments and the 12 day conflict between Iran and Israel. In this context, the roles of Europe, the United States, and global powers such as China and […]
He said: “In the BRICS meeting, a similar statement condemning the U.S. and Israeli attack on Iran was issued.” He continued: “This afternoon, China time, the President is also scheduled to meet and consult with his Chinese counterpart.”
Baghaei said, “Tomorrow, the President will also participate in a special program related to the developments of World War II in China.”
He reiterated: “The resolutions of the Shanghai summit were important, including resolutions on addressing emerging challenges and cooperation of countries in banking, finance, and other areas.”
25-Year Agreement with China Continues Unaffected by Peripheral Issues
In response to a question about the possibility of Iran-China agreements in the energy sector following the activation of the snapback mechanism, Baghaei said: “We have a good relationship with China. The 25-year cooperation contract also includes energy discussions. This agreement continues its work without being influenced by peripheral issues. Russia and China have also opposed this European action.”
He added, “We are members of BRICS and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, and it is expected that interactions continue without external developments and illegal pressures. We are optimistic about the strength of relations and programs of the two countries for expanding cooperation.”
China’s Military Parade and Iranian Participation
Baghaei, regarding China’s plan to hold a military parade and the President of Iran’s participation, said: “This is one of the sections foreseen by the host. During the continuation of the Shanghai summit, this event is scheduled to be held. This event is, in a way, a reminder of painful past developments and an incentive for all countries to make joint efforts to prevent disasters and wars that no sound-minded individual would want to see repeated.”
Pezeshkian to Attend China’s Victory Day Parade
WANA (Aug 28) – Russian President Vladimir Putin and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, along with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, will attend China’s “Victory Day” military parade on September 3, marking Japan’s surrender in World War II. It will be the first public appearance of Putin and Kim alongside Chinese President Xi Jinping, […]
Recent Claims About a New Mediator Are Inaccurate
Regarding recent developments, including extensive consultations by Egypt’s Foreign Minister with U.S., European, and IAEA officials about Iran’s nuclear file, and whether Egypt is capable of acting as a mediator, especially regarding Iran-IAEA relations, Baghaei said:
“The claims being made these days about a new mediator, including regarding Iran-IAEA relations, are not accurate. We have direct communication with the Agency, and recently, two rounds of negotiations between Iran and the Agency have been held, and Iran’s representative is active at the Agency.”
Baghaei continued: “Iranian diplomacy is active, and we use diplomatic tools to advance our national interests. Recently, our contacts and diplomatic talks with regional countries have increased. Regional countries also have concerns about regional stability and security, and they use their efforts and capacities to stabilize the region and prevent an increase in regional tensions.”
He said: “We appreciate and commend the actions of countries that are trying to strengthen stability and security in the region.”
Egypt Mediates Between Iran and IAEA on Nuclear Talks
WANA (Aug 06) – The Egyptian Foreign Minister held separate conversations with the Iranian Foreign Minister and the Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency. On August 6, 2025, Egypt’s Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty held separate phone calls with Seyed Abbas Araghchi, Iran’s Foreign Minister, and Rafael Grossi, Director General of the International Atomic […]
U.S. Not Serious in Diplomacy
In response to statements by the U.S. Secretary of State after the activation of the snapback mechanism, Baghaei said, “The United States is not serious about diplomacy and negotiation. Rubio is the foreign minister of a country that, two days before a scheduled meeting, carried out a military attack on Iran through the mediation of the Zionist regime and joined this illegal aggression. Using pressure and sanctions on a UN member country while claiming to be committed to diplomacy is nothing but hypocrisy and a lack of goodwill.”
False Claims About China’s President Meeting With Pezeshkian
In response to a question asking: “Some people claimed that the Chinese president only gave five minutes to meet with the Iranian president on the sidelines of the Shanghai summit, and a humiliating situation occurred,” Baghaei said: “These are lies. Media maturity is required so that we do not easily believe every news and claim, and more importantly, do not immediately publish it.”
He added: “Therefore, this claim is really, I do not think, even worth responding to; as scheduled, today bilateral meetings will be held according to customary protocols.”
No Goodwill Seen from European Countries
The Foreign Ministry spokesperson, in response to a journalist’s question regarding a recent quote in an opposition media outlet attributed to Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister, stating that “we sent messages to the Americans through several intermediaries, but they did not respond, and there is no willingness on their part to negotiate with Iran,” said: “What has been attributed to Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister has no validity, and its publication by the propaganda organ of the Zionist regime was carried out to advance their own agenda, which revolves around psychological warfare against Iran.”
Baghaei continued in response to this question: “We see no goodwill from the three European countries in presenting certain conditions to stop the activation of the snapback mechanism, and we also see the Americans as lacking such goodwill, based on our experience with them, and the events of the past three to four months confirm this.”
The Final Stretch of Iran–Europe Nuclear Talks
WANA (Aug 26) – On Tuesday, August 26, negotiations between Iran and the European trio—Germany, France, and the United Kingdom—together with the European Union, are reaching what many describe as the “final round” before a decision is made on the snapback mechanism. If activated, this mechanism could reinstate all United Nations sanctions against Iran. Once […]
The Foreign Ministry spokesperson also said in response to another question: “If you refer to the history of European countries’ positions, at one point they raised the issue of zero enrichment. Later, when they realized that such a demand was completely contrary to their commitments under the JCPOA, and that enrichment is fully recognized as part of Iran’s rights, they tried to justify their position.”
European Countries Must Review Positions Honestly and Responsibly
He added: “European countries must, honestly and responsibly, review their positions with regard to past negotiations and considering what they themselves accepted as part of their commitments under UN Security Council Resolution 2231, and try to adopt an independent approach without being influenced by the two other destructive actors, namely the Zionist regime and the United States.”
Hope for Strengthened Understanding Through Pakistan-Armenia Diplomatic Relations
The Foreign Ministry spokesperson, in response to a question regarding the meeting of the foreign ministers of Pakistan and Armenia and their decision to resume diplomatic relations between the two countries, said: “We have good relations with both Pakistan and Armenia. Both countries are our neighbors, and we evaluate this development positively.”
He added: “We hope that the establishment of diplomatic relations between these two countries will help strengthen understanding among the countries of the region, especially in the South Caucasus.”
Legal Authority for Technical Extension of UNSC Resolution 2231 Belongs to the Security Council
The senior Iranian diplomat, referring to a joint letter sent yesterday by the foreign ministers of Iran, China, and Russia to the UN Security Council President and the UN Secretary-General on the matter, said:
“We hold a common position on this issue. All three countries believe that the European Union and the three European states, for reasons previously mentioned and others, lack the legal authority to invoke the dispute resolution mechanism, which in effect means starting the process of reinstating previously rescinded UN Security Council resolutions.”
He added, “Accordingly, the discussion of extending the JCPOA should be considered alongside this matter. At the same time, the technical extension of Resolution 2231 is an issue that must be raised in the UN Security Council, which has the authority over it. In contact and consultations with China and Russia, we are making every effort to ensure that Iran’s national interests are achieved.”
Iran, Russia, China Oppose Snapback in UN Letter
WANA (Sep 01) – Iran’s Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi announced that Iran, Russia, and China have sent a joint letter to the UN Secretary-General and the President of the Security Council, stressing that countries failing to honor their obligations cannot claim the benefits of an agreement they themselves have undermined. Araghchi wrote that […]
Iran to Decide on UN Secretary-General Nomination Based on Own Assessment
Responding to a question about Tehran’s reaction to Rafael Grossi’s candidacy for UN Secretary-General, the Foreign Ministry spokesperson said: “It is still early to comment on the Secretary-General position, as a significant period remains in the current Secretary-General’s term.”
He emphasized: “However, several points are clear: the Secretary-General must be nominated by the UN Security Council with nine positive votes and no opposition from permanent members, before being presented to the General Assembly. Iran has one vote in the General Assembly and will decide in due course based on its assessment of the candidates who are expected to put themselves forward.”
Baghaei also highlighted the legal and administrative importance of the UN Secretary-General, noting that according to the UN Charter, the Secretary-General has significant duties and powers. Key criteria for the role include competence, integrity, and independence from external pressures. “These criteria will certainly guide Iran’s decision-making,” he said.
Europe Needs Greater Moral Courage and Responsibility
Responding to a question about the German Foreign Minister’s claim that Europe acted to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons and that the “ball is now in Iran’s court,” Baghaei said: “Diplomacy is not a game. Europeans constantly use the term ‘ball’ as if they were honest and reliable negotiators, which is far from reality.”
He continued: “Europeans need to strengthen moral courage and responsibility appropriate to their position to play a constructive role in diplomatic processes.”
Criticizing Europe’s activation of the snapback mechanism, he added: “The action of the three European countries effectively ceded all their sovereign rights on this issue to the U.S. Linking the non-reinstatement of rescinded UN resolutions to Iran’s negotiations with another actor demonstrates irresponsibility and bad faith.”
Regarding the U.S., Baghaei said: “If the American side were a trustworthy negotiator, it would have used this opportunity instead of sabotaging the talks with the help of the Zionist regime. It must be clear to Iranians and the international public that such statements and behavior show a lack of good faith and belief in diplomacy.”
Europe’s Last Arrow: The Snapback Mechanism Against Iran
WANA (Aug 29) – After months of diplomatic wrangling, the three European countries—Britain, France, and Germany—have sent a formal letter to the UN Security Council to trigger the so-called snapback mechanism, a legal tool that could restore past resolutions against Iran. But what does this move actually mean, and how much impact could it have […]
Iran-IAEA Interaction Within Parliament and National Security Council Framework
In response to questions about IAEA inspectors and recent remarks by the agency’s Director-General, Baghaei said: “Iran’s interaction with the IAEA will take place within the framework approved by Parliament and with guidance from the National Security Council. Apart from last week’s fuel loading at the Bushehr reactor, no other interactions have taken place.”
U.S. Military Threats to Venezuela Condemned
On U.S. military threats toward Venezuela under the pretext of combating drug trafficking, he said: “We stated our position last week. U.S. interventions in Latin America are a return to overt colonial policies. The U.S. military buildup near Venezuela under the guise of drug control is unjustifiable, and we condemn it, warning against any use of force and its impact on the region.”
Baghaei added that claims of combating transnational crime are only a pretext for illegal interventions, citing known U.S. officials’ ties to figures like Jeffrey Epstein.
Global Humanitarian Efforts to Break Gaza Blockade Highlighted
Regarding the “Steadfast” fleet of humanitarian ships and activists from 44 countries heading to Gaza, he said: “This reflects serious demands from international public opinion. Despite U.S. and Western leverage shielding the Zionist regime from accountability, global awareness and conscience are being mobilized to break the blockade.”
Baghaei noted: “At least 40 countries are participating, showing that stopping the genocide in Gaza has become a global public concern. This also increases the media’s responsibility in raising awareness and mobilizing international efforts.”
Water Issues Remain Central in Iran-Afghanistan Negotiations
On the inauguration of the “Pashdan” dam in Afghanistan and its impact on northeastern Iran, he said: “Water rights, including from the Helmand River and other inflows from Afghanistan, remain a key agenda item in our discussions. Both the Ministry of Energy and the Foreign Ministry use every opportunity to express our concerns and seek solutions to minimize issues.”
He added that diplomatic channels, including the Iranian embassy in Kabul, are actively pursuing these matters.
Iran Responds to Gulf Cooperation Council Claims on Islands and Arash Gas Field
Baghaei also addressed questions on the final statement of the Gulf Cooperation Council meeting regarding the three Iranian islands and the Arash gas field, referring to the explanatory statement released by Iran’s Foreign Ministry.
