Araghchi to the European Troika: Iran will respond appropriately to your illegal action

Pars Today – In response to the European Troika’s move to reinstate UN sanctions against Tehran, Iran’s Foreign Minister stated: “We will respond appropriately to your illegal action.”

On Thursday, Seyyed Abbas Araghchi, Iran’s Foreign Minister, recalled Iran’s responsible and good-faith approach to diplomacy in addressing issues related to Tehran’s nuclear program. He stated that the Islamic Republic will respond appropriately to the unlawful and unjustified actions of the three European countries in order to protect and safeguard its national rights and interests.

According to Pars Today, the three European countries that are parties to the JCPOA—Germany, the UK, and France, known as the European Troika—sent a letter to the United Nations Security Council announcing that they have activated the so-called “snapback” mechanism to reinstate UN sanctions against Iran.

After Europe decided to initiate the activation of the snapback mechanism against Tehran, the foreign ministers of the three European countries, along with the EU’s foreign policy chief, contacted Iran’s Foreign Minister Seyyed Abbas Araghchi by phone. They informed him of their intention to officially notify the United Nations Security Council to begin the so-called dispute resolution process under the JCPOA.

At the same time, Germany, the UK, and France emphasized their readiness to find a diplomatic solution within 30 days to resolve the issues and prevent the reinstatement of UN Security Council sanctions.

In this phone call, Abbas Araghchi described the actions of the three European countries as unjustified, illegal, and lacking any legal basis. Emphasizing Iran’s determination to defend its rights and interests in accordance with international law and the Non-Proliferation Treaty, he expressed hope that the three European countries would adopt a responsible approach, recognize the existing realities, and appropriately rectify their misguided action in the coming days.

Following the announcement of the snapback mechanism activation by the European Troika, Iran’s Foreign Ministry issued a statement saying that the decision by the three European countries will severely undermine the ongoing interactions and cooperation between the Islamic Republic and the IAEA. The statement added that this provocative and unnecessary escalation will be met with appropriate responses, as the path chosen by the three European countries, if left unchecked, could have serious consequences for the credibility and structure of the United Nations Security Council.

In this context, Kazem Gharibabadi, Iran’s Deputy for Legal and International Affairs at the Foreign Ministry, described the European Troika’s move to initiate the reinstatement of UN Security Council sanctions against Iran as “illegal and regrettable,” stating that it is an action against diplomacy, not an opportunity for it.

In an interview with Reuters, Gharibabadi reiterated that the process to reinstate UN sanctions on Iran is “illegal and regrettable,” and emphasized that Tehran is considering various options, including the possibility of withdrawing from the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT).

He also emphasized that the Europeans, with “utter audacity and arrogance,” claim to be implementing the JCPOA, while existing indicators and information show that they have not only failed to implement the agreement but have also imposed new sanctions, including on Iran’s shipping and aviation sectors.

According to the JCPOA text, the snapback mechanism in UN Security Council Resolution 2231 is only valid if all parties fulfill their commitments. Iran therefore stresses that the other parties have not adhered to any of their obligations under the JCPOA.