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 the remarks during separate phone calls with the foreign ministers of the three European countries and the EU’s foreign policy chief.
During the conversations, the European officials informed him of their intention to formally notify the UN Security Council to begin the dispute resolution process under the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).
They also expressed readiness to pursue a diplomatic solution within the next 30 days to address concerns and avoid the reimposition of UN sanctions.
The Iranian foreign minister dismissed the move as unjustified, unlawful, and without legal foundation. Recalling Iran’s record of “responsible and good-faith” engagement in diplomacy over nuclear issues, Araghchi stressed that Tehran will not hesitate to defend its rights under international law and the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT).
He voiced hope that the three European governments would “act responsibly, recognize the realities, and correct their wrongful course of action in the coming days.”
According to reports, the European troika has sent a letter to the UN Security Council announcing the initiation of the snapback process. Germany, the UK, and France—signatories to the JCPOA—formally notified Council members on Thursday that they were triggering the mechanism to reinstate UN sanctions against Iran.
The snapback clause, embedded in UNSC Resolution 2231, allows participants in the agreement to reimpose sanctions in cases of alleged “non-compliance.”
Iranian officials argue, however, that the mechanism is only valid if all parties honor their own commitments, stressing that the European trio forfeited their right to use it by failing to uphold economic obligations and remaining silent on U.S. violations.
