Why it matters:
If the E3 attempts to reimpose UN sanctions on Iran, the nuclear deal could collapse entirely, deepening rifts between Europe, Moscow, Beijing, and Tehran, while further escalating tensions in the Persian Gulf and at the UN Security Council.
The big picture:
The 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) was designed to curb Iran’s nuclear program in exchange for sanctions relief.
The U.S. withdrew in 2018, reinstating sanctions. Since then, Europe has struggled to keep the deal alive while scaling back its commitments.
The snapback mechanism allows for the automatic restoration of UN sanctions if a signatory claims Iran is in noncompliance, a move hotly contested by Russia, China, and Iran.
What he’s saying:
Mikhail Ulyanov, Russian envoy in Vienna:
“Let’s put aside for a second legal and procedural issues, which definitely don’t give the E3 the right to do that. From a purely political viewpoint, it is relevant to ask if the E3 has an exit strategy. The answers to these questions seem to be negative.”
He argued that the European trio has “no vision” for resolving the deadlock that their threats would inevitably create.
Key points:
- Ulyanov stressed the E3 has no legal basis under JCPOA or UN Resolution 2231 to trigger snapback.
- Iran, Russia, and China have harshly rejected European threats to restore sanctions.
- Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Europe forfeited its authority after aligning with U.S. policies and demanding “zero enrichment.”
- China, in a letter to the UN Security Council, declared firm opposition to any snapback attempt.
Go deeper:
Iran, Russia FMs Discuss Tehran’s Cooperation with IAEA
Hossein Vaez - Hossein Vaez
