Iran reacts to activation of the snapback
Tehran - BORNA - The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Republic of Iran issued a statement rejecting claims by three European countries and the United States that previously terminated Security Council resolutions against Iran have been revived, saying such steps are not only legally unfounded and unjustifiable but are also morally and logically reprehensible.
The statement declared that the action by the three European countries (the United Kingdom, Germany and France) and the United States—namely the abuse of the JCPOA dispute-settlement process and Resolution 2231 of the UN Security Council to restore rescinded resolutions against Iran—is illegal and unjustified. The statement emphasized that UN Security Council Resolution 2231 and the temporal limitations it set on measures concerning Iran’s peaceful nuclear programme must be considered to have expired on schedule (26 Mehr 1404 / 18 October 2025).
The European parties to the JCPOA, like the United States, have committed gross and ongoing breaches of the letter and spirit of the deal
The statement noted that the three European countries initiated the so-called “snapback” mechanism under pressure from the United States, despite their own persistent and grave failures to fulfil JCPOA obligations—failures amounting to a material breach. It added that, by explicitly or implicitly supporting the military aggression of the Zionist regime and the United States against Iran’s peaceful nuclear facilities—facilities that were covered by the JCPOA and subject to the IAEA safeguards—these three European states flagrantly violated international law and the non-proliferation regime, in particular Article 2(4) of the UN Charter, and thereby breached the JCPOA and UNSCR 2231. Accordingly, the statement said, the European parties, like the United States, have acted in bad faith and committed grave and continuous violations of both the text and the spirit of the JCPOA, and they have shown no genuine good-faith effort to resolve disputes.
Reviving terminated resolutions is legally baseless and morally reprehensible
The Foreign Ministry reiterated that any attempt to revive terminated Security Council resolutions is not only legally baseless and indefensible, but also wholly unacceptable on moral and logical grounds. Iran’s peaceful nuclear programme was comprehensively addressed under UNSCR 2231 and the JCPOA, and the ten-year sunset provisions must be deemed to expire as scheduled on 26 Mehr 1404 (18 October 2025).
The Security Council cannot act on a flawed note submitted by the three European countries
The statement further emphasized that the three European states of failing to observe the provisions of UNSCR 2231 in pursuing this matter; paragraph 11 of UNSCR 2231 requires the Security Council to “take into account the views of the states concerned.” It regretted that, despite clear positions from other JCPOA parties—specifically Iran, China and the Russian Federation—and under pressure from the three European countries and the United States, the Council President illegally put a draft resolution to a vote. As the joint letter of the foreign ministers of China, Iran and Russia dated 28 August 2025 stressed, the Security Council cannot act on the basis of a flawed communication from the three European states. Any action inconsistent with or contrary to UNSCR 2231 cannot create legal obligations for UN member states.
Iran rejects the claim that previously terminated resolutions have returned
On that basis, the Islamic Republic of Iran rejects the assertion by the three European countries and the United States that previously terminated resolutions have been revived under UNSCR 2231. Iran stresses that no legal obligation attaches to UN member states, including the Islamic Republic of Iran, with respect to the provisions or mechanisms of those rescinded resolutions, and all states should refrain from recognizing this unlawful situation that conflicts with UNSCR 2231. Iran’s principled position on this matter is reflected in its formal letter to the UN Secretary-General dated 5 Mehr 1404.
Iran has repeatedly demonstrated commitment to dialogue and diplomacy over the past two decades
The statement recalled that over the past two decades Iran has repeatedly demonstrated its commitment to dialogue and diplomacy to address issues related to its peaceful nuclear programme, and has shown readiness to find a fair and reasonable solution that guarantees Iran’s rights to peaceful nuclear energy while providing appropriate transparency and assurance regarding the peaceful nature of Iran’s nuclear activities. Accordingly, Iran fully implemented the provisions of the JCPOA from 2015 until 2019 (until one year after the United States’ unlawful withdrawal), and structured its remedial measures under JCPOA paragraphs 26 and 36 from May 2019 so that Iran could immediately resume its commitments should the European parties and the United States return to their JCPOA obligations.
Over the past four years Iran has presented multiple initiatives and proposals for the reimplementation of JCPOA commitments by all parties, or for alternative negotiated understandings to address outstanding issues; these efforts failed due to the lack of seriousness and bad faith of the three European countries and the United States.
Iran will use all available means to try and hold the perpetrators of aggression accountable and seek compensation
The statement described the military attacks by the Zionist regime and the United States against Iran’s nuclear facilities between 13–24 June 2025, and the accompanying support by the three European countries, as the apex of those countries’ grave breaches of their JCPOA obligations and proof of manifest bad faith. It said the military aggression—which caused fatalities and injuries among Iranian citizens and damaged nuclear facilities and critical infrastructure—gives rise not only to criminal liability for the perpetrators and those who ordered them, but also to international responsibility of the aggressor parties for internationally wrongful acts. The Islamic Republic of Iran will employ all available means to prosecute and punish the criminals and to seek reparations.
Iran sought to prevent European abuse of the JCPOA dispute mechanism
The statement added that, over the past two months, Iran made extensive efforts to prevent the three European states from abusing the JCPOA dispute-settlement mechanism. These efforts included the recent agreement with the IAEA on and the submission of useful and reasonable proposals on this and other nuclear issues, but they failed due to the indifference and excessive demands of the three European countries and the United States.
Any move to harm Iran’s rights and interests will be met with a decisive response
Finally, the statement said that instead of creating an environment conducive to diplomacy and engagement, the three European states and the United States have chosen confrontation and crisis-building, mistakenly believing that reviving rescinded UNSC resolutions will provide a new lever of pressure. The Islamic Republic of Iran will vigorously defend its rights and national interests, and any action aimed at harming those rights and interests will be met with an appropriate and forceful response.
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