Tehran — Iran’s foreign minister has cautioned European signatories to the 2015 nuclear deal against triggering the so-called “snapback” mechanism, warning that such a move would be illegal and effectively end Europe’s diplomatic role in talks over Tehran’s nuclear program, reported by Mehr News Agency.
Speaking to Iran’s state news agency IRNA in an interview published Wednesday, Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Tehran has prepared a coordinated response should Europe attempt to restore United Nations sanctions ahead of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action’s (JCPOA) October expiration.
Araghchi argued that Europe had forfeited its rights under the accord by aligning with U.S. pressure and supporting proposals like “zero enrichment.” “You are no longer participants in the JCPOA,” he said. “The right to invoke snapback belongs only to the remaining members.”
He warned that activating snapback would render Europe irrelevant to diplomacy: “You’ve used the tool, and it’s done. What remains after that? The end of diplomacy?”
While acknowledging that the return of U.N. sanctions — including arms embargoes — would be serious, Araghchi downplayed the economic impact, saying unilateral U.S. sanctions already outweigh any multilateral restrictions. “Things will not become any worse than the current situation,” he noted, though he admitted there would be political and psychological consequences.
The minister revealed that Iran has coordinated with Russia and China on countermeasures, holding “various joint meetings” to prepare for the eventuality of a snapback.
Meanwhile, Tehran is also engaged in parallel negotiations with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) following U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iranian nuclear sites in June. Araghchi said a new framework for cooperation is being discussed, stressing that oversight would remain under Iran’s Supreme National Security Council.
He dismissed the idea of cutting ties with the IAEA altogether, noting inspectors are still required for routine tasks such as fuel rod replacement at the Bushehr nuclear power plant.
