WANA (Aug 28) – The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Iran today, in reaction to the notification by three European countries to the Security Council regarding Resolution 2231, announced in a statement: the decision of the three European countries will seriously undermine the current course of Iran’s interactions and cooperation with the Agency, and this provocative and unnecessary action will be met with appropriate responses.

 

This evening (Thursday), August 28, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Iran issued a statement in reaction to the illegal notification by three European countries to the Security Council regarding Resolution 2231.

 

The statement read:

“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Republic of Iran categorically rejects and strongly condemns the illegal notification of France, Germany, and the United Kingdom (E3) to the Security Council in relation to Resolution 2231 (2015). This unjustified move, which is contrary to the Dispute Resolution Mechanism (DRM) of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), constitutes an unlawful and baseless attempt to re-impose annulled resolutions and is clearly inconsistent with Resolution 2231 (2015).

 

As has been emphasized in numerous previous communications with the United Nations Security Council, the three European countries have neither the legal nor the moral authority to resort to the so-called “snapback” mechanism. Therefore, their notification is invalid, null, and devoid of any legal effect.

 

The dispute resolution mechanism enshrined in the JCPOA is an essential and inseparable part of this framework, deliberately designed as a multi-stage and consultative process to prevent abuse by any party—particularly countries such as Germany, France, and the United Kingdom, which themselves have failed to fulfill their obligations.

 

As some members of the Council, particularly China and Russia, have confirmed, the three European countries have not followed the requirements of the dispute resolution mechanism as provided in the JCPOA and Resolution 2231. Therefore, their notification is a legally defective attempt to abuse Resolution 2231 in pursuit of a biased political agenda against Iran.

 

Moreover, given that these three countries have for a long time seriously violated their obligations and aligned themselves with the illegal withdrawal of the United States and its coercive measures, they cannot claim the status of “good-faith parties.” Nor can they justify their unlawful actions by referring to Iran’s remedial measures—measures which were gradual, proportionate, and fully within Iran’s legal rights under the JCPOA.

 

Regardless of all the legal and political debates surrounding the background of this matter, the abuse of the said mechanism at a time when Iran’s nuclear facilities have been severely damaged due to the illegal attack by a former JCPOA member is a clear indication of bad faith.

 

The action of the three countries, which deliberately ignores the broader context and distorts the chain of events, in effect rewards the violator and punishes the victim. It was the United States, not Iran, that unilaterally withdrew from the JCPOA and reinstated sanctions in 2018. It was the European Union/three European countries, not Iran, that failed to fulfill their commitments to mitigate the economic consequences of the U.S. withdrawal. It was the European Union/three European countries, not Iran, that not only failed to implement their obligations on Transition Day (October 18, 2023), but also imposed new illegal sanctions against Iranian airlines and civilian shipping companies.

 

The decision of the three European countries will seriously undermine the current course of Iran’s interactions and cooperation with the Agency. This provocative and unnecessary escalation will be met with appropriate responses.

 

The path chosen by the three European countries, if left unchecked, will have severe consequences for the credibility and structure of the Security Council. Resorting to the so-called snapback mechanism without following the proper process and providing valid legal grounds not only undermines confidence in the Council’s decisions, but also endangers international peace and security. The Islamic Republic of Iran emphasizes that such a decision must be firmly rejected by all responsible members of the international community.

 

Over the past years, the Islamic Republic of Iran has demonstrated maximum restraint and its enduring commitment to diplomatic engagement to preserve the JCPOA and to find a negotiated solution. The Islamic Republic of Iran remains ready to engage constructively with other members of the Security Council who are sincerely committed to upholding diplomacy and preventing an artificial crisis that benefits no one. The first essential step in this path is the firm rejection of the unlawful, unjustified, and politically motivated attempt by the three European countries to reinstate annulled resolutions against a country that has consistently demonstrated restraint and its commitment to dialogue.

 

The official statement of the Islamic Republic of Iran in response to this action of the three European countries will soon be issued and registered as a document of the Security Council.”

 

The foreign ministers of the three European countries today, in a telephone call with Araghchi, informed the Foreign Minister of Iran of their intention to formally notify the Security Council to initiate the so-called dispute resolution process in the JCPOA (snapback).