WANA (Jun 12) – In a strongly worded letter to the United Nations Security Council, Amir Saeid Iravani, Iran’s Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the UN, responded to recent accusations and a joint statement by the European Troika (France, Germany, and the UK) regarding the implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 2231 (2015) and the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).

 

He criticized the E3’s attempt to evade responsibility, deflect public opinion from their own documented breaches of the nuclear deal, and politically motivated accusations against Iran.

 

The letter addressed the following key points:

 

Iran Rejects E3 Allegations

Iran categorically rejects the accusations made by the E3, Iravani stated, arguing that they ignore the core context, current status of the JCPOA, and the responsibilities of the parties involved. He emphasized that the E3’s claims are not only factually unfounded and misleading but also legally invalid and politically biased.

 

Iran’s Remedial Actions Were Legal and Justified

Iravani reiterated that Iran’s remedial measures were a direct response to the U.S. withdrawal from the JCPOA in May 2018 and the E3’s failure to fulfill their own commitments, particularly regarding economic normalization. These breaches disrupted the agreement’s balance, prompting Iran to act within its legitimate rights under the deal.

 

Since 2019—more than a year after the U.S. exit—Iran gradually reduced its JCPOA commitments in line with explicit provisions of the accord, which allowed such measures in case of reimposed or newly introduced nuclear-related sanctions by the U.S. or the E3.

 

He stressed that Iran’s nuclear commitments were tied to balanced economic benefits, which evaporated due to sanctions and European noncompliance. Iran’s response, he said, was lawful, reversible, and proportionate.

Iran and the European Troika - WANA

Selective Misuse of IAEA Reports

The ambassador accused the E3 of cherry-picking and exaggerating elements of recent IAEA reports, while ignoring the peaceful nature of Iran’s nuclear program. He noted that Iran’s enrichment activities remain under one of the strictest verification regimes by the IAEA.

 

He emphasized that as long as Iran’s nuclear activities remain under safeguards and inspection, there is no legitimate cause for concern. He cited the IAEA Director General’s statement on May 31, 2025, affirming that enrichment activities under safeguards are not, by themselves, prohibited.

 

Iravani added that Iran has remained committed to its NPT obligations and has never pursued nuclear weapons. The term “significant quantity,” used by the IAEA, he argued, is neither a valid legal nor technical benchmark for determining weaponization intent.

 

He pointed out that in 2024 alone, 250,530 “significant quantity units” of nuclear material were under IAEA safeguards globally, and Iran’s possession of 7–9 such units—fully monitored—was neither exceptional nor indicative of diversion.

 

E3 Misrepresents Legal Frameworks

The ambassador denounced the E3’s conflation of Iran’s JCPOA commitments with its obligations under the NPT and the Comprehensive Safeguards Agreement (CSA) as deceptive and dishonest. He underlined Iran’s continued cooperation with the IAEA, including through the March 2023 Joint Statement.

 

Iravani warned that politicizing technical issues would undermine the IAEA’s professional independence. He emphasized that Iran’s actions did not violate the JCPOA or its NPT obligations and cannot justify the E3’s failure to implement their commitments or resort to dispute resolution mechanisms.

 

E3’s Ongoing JCPOA Violations

The ambassador cataloged the E3’s breaches: succumbing to unlawful U.S. sanctions, inaction post-U.S. withdrawal, failing to implement “Transition Day” commitments, reinstating lifted sanctions, and imposing new unlawful restrictions. He stressed that these actions constitute clear and ongoing violations of the JCPOA and UNSC Resolution 2231.

 

Given the E3’s noncompliance, Iravani argued, they have no legal or moral basis to invoke dispute resolution mechanisms, let alone threaten the reactivation of UN sanctions (“snapback”). Such actions, he said, would be procedurally invalid, substantively flawed, and politically reckless.

 

Misuse of the Dispute Resolution Mechanism

He rejected the E3’s claim that the JCPOA’s dispute resolution process had concluded in 2020. Moreover, he condemned the E3’s threat to trigger the snapback mechanism unless a “satisfactory agreement” is reached, calling it a distortion of the mechanism’s purpose—which is to preserve, not dismantle, the agreement.

European Union and the United States flags -WANA

Nuclear Weapon Allegations Are Baseless

Iravani condemned suggestions that Iranian officials seek nuclear weapons or have altered the country’s defense doctrine, calling them “groundless and provocative.” He reaffirmed Iran’s long-standing policy of rejecting weapons of mass destruction, rooted in religious, legal, and strategic doctrine, and consistently reaffirmed by Iran’s top leadership.

 

Iran Remains Committed to Diplomacy

Despite the challenges, Iran remains committed to a negotiated solution addressing both nuclear concerns and the unjust sanctions impacting Iranian livelihoods. Iravani noted that Iran resumed talks with the E3 during the 79th UN General Assembly in 2024 and engaged in indirect talks with the U.S.

 

He expressed deep regret that the E3, instead of responding to Iran’s goodwill, have threatened the snapback mechanism and issued unrealistic demands beyond the JCPOA’s scope. He accused the E3 of using internal JCPOA tools to extract new concessions, which undermines diplomatic trust.

 

E3 Must Return to Realism and International Law

If the E3 genuinely seeks a diplomatic solution, Iravani said, they must abandon their unrealistic approach and respect state sovereignty within the framework of international law. The real threat to peace and security, he argued, lies not in Iran’s nuclear program, but in the persistent use of unlawful coercive measures and the politicization of international institutions such as the IAEA.

 

He warned that the E3’s misuse of the snapback mechanism is a blatant violation of the principle of pacta sunt servanda (honoring agreements) and undermines the credibility of the Security Council.

 

Iran Warns of Consequences if Snapback Is Triggered

Iravani issued a stern warning: any attempt to revive expired Security Council resolutions would be legally baseless and politically dangerous, severely destabilizing regional and international peace. He reiterated that the E3, having breached the JCPOA themselves, have no legal standing to invoke such mechanisms.

 

He cautioned that misuse of Resolution 2231’s mechanisms would erode both the Council’s credibility and the broader non-proliferation regime. Should the snapback be triggered, Iran has already stated—including in formal letters to E3 officials—that it would consider all necessary responses, including initiating withdrawal from the NPT under Article X.

 

Security Council Must Uphold Resolution 2231

As the Security Council approaches the “Termination Day” of Resolution 2231, Iravani urged the UN and all Council members to reaffirm their commitment to sovereign equality, treaty fidelity, and the resolution’s full implementation. He called on the UN Secretary-General and Security Council to reject the E3’s selective narrative and misuse of mechanisms.

 

A Sustainable Diplomatic Solution Is Still Possible

The letter concluded by emphasizing that a durable solution can only be achieved through mutual respect, strict adherence to international law, and genuine negotiations conducted in good faith. Iran remains open to such a path—if its counterparts act responsibly.