Europe Lacks 'Legal, Moral' Authority to Trigger UNSC 'Snapback' on Iran Sanctions

Iran (IMNA) - Iranian and Russian top diplomats, Abbas Araghchi and Sergei Lavrov, made these remarks during a phone call on Friday, according to Press TV.

They referred to the trio’s growing attempts to have the Security Council reimpose sanctions ahead of the expiration of UNSC Resolution 2231. This resolution was adopted following the 2015 nuclear deal between Iran and several world powers, including the three European states, endorsing the agreement and lifting sanctions on Iran.

Accusing Iran of diverting its peaceful nuclear activities toward military purposes, the European countries have sought to activate the so-called “snapback” mechanism of the deal. This mechanism allows sanctions to be reinstated before the resolution’s scheduled expiration in October.

Araghchi and Lavrov pointed out that the European states have lost any legitimate grounds to use the snapback mechanism due to their failure to fulfill their commitments under the JCPOA (Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action). They also cited the Europeans’ alignment with the US in its June attacks on Iran’s nuclear facilities as further undermining their position.

In 2018, the United States unilaterally and illegally withdrew from the JCPOA and reimposed sanctions on Iran. The European trio not only failed to bring the US back into the deal but also imposed their own economic sanctions against Iran. Earlier this year, these countries prompted the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to adopt an unfounded resolution against Iran, providing Washington with a pretext for its attacks on Iranian nuclear sites. After the attacks, these European states fully supported the aggression politically.

The Iranian and Russian foreign ministers stressed the importance of allowing Resolution 2231 to expire as planned. According to Araghchi, any decision to extend the resolution must be made by the Security Council and its members.

Both diplomats also emphasized the need for ongoing mutual engagement and consultations at various levels to strengthen their countries' shared positions.