Russian diplomat: Europe made a major mistake by activating Snapback against Iran

Pars Today – Russia’s permanent representative to international organizations in Vienna described the European Troika’s official move to activate the snapback mechanism for reinstating sanctions against Iran as a major mistake.

The three European JCPOA members—the UK, France, and Germany (the European Troika)—officially sent a “notification” to the UN Security Council on Thursday, activating the snapback mechanism to reinstate sanctions against Iran.

These European countries, which have so far failed to fulfill their JCPOA commitments, stated that they are ready to negotiate with the Islamic Republic of Iran over the nuclear deal within the next 30 days, a process that could halt the reinstatement of sanctions.

According to Pars Today, citing IRNA, Mikhail Ulyanov, Russia’s permanent representative to international organizations in Vienna, wrote on his Telegram channel on Thursday that the action by the foreign ministers of the UK, France, and Germany to officially activate the snapback mechanism to reinstate sanctions on Iran is a major mistake.

He added that this move by the European countries represents yet another irresponsible step by the “European Troika,” pushing the situation into a complete deadlock.

Earlier, this Russian diplomat also wrote on his Telegram channel in response to the European Troika’s threats to activate the snapback mechanism: it is reasonable to ask whether the “three European countries” have a clear exit strategy or any understanding of how to find a solution to the deadlock they intend to enter. The answer to these questions appears to be negative.

In this context, Dmitry Polyanskiy, Russia’s Ambassador and Deputy Permanent Representative to the UN, stated at a press conference in New York on Thursday that Russia and China support the resumption of negotiations with the Islamic Republic of Iran. He emphasized that Europe’s anti-Iranian move to activate the snapback mechanism has no legal basis and that the Security Council should not act based on the European Troika’s letter.

Polyanskiy added that China and Russia have submitted a draft resolution to the UN Security Council proposing a six-month extension of the Iran nuclear deal.

Earlier, Russia’s Department of Information and Press at the Foreign Ministry issued a statement saying that the threats by the UK, Germany, and France to activate the mechanism for reinstating previously lifted UN sanctions against Iran constitute a serious destabilizing factor. The Russian Foreign Ministry noted that, in words, the Europeans support diplomacy and negotiation, but their actions undermine this prospect.