Iran condemns European move to trigger UN sanctions as “malicious,” “illegal”

Iran on August 28 strongly condemned the decision by Germany, Britain, and France (E3) to notify the UN Security Council to trigger sanctions, calling the move “malicious” and “illegal.”

In a statement, Iran’s Foreign Ministry rejected the European countries’ action, describing it as inconsistent with the dispute resolution mechanism outlined in the 2015 nuclear deal, the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), Caliber.Az reports via Iranian media.

The ministry said the notification is “invalid, null, and devoid of any legal effect,” noting that the E3 had not fulfilled their obligations under the agreement and therefore lacked the authority to trigger the so-called “snapback” mechanism.

Iran emphasised that the dispute resolution mechanism was designed to be multi-stage and consultative, and argued that the European countries’ action represents an attempt to pursue a political agenda. The statement also cited prior confirmations from China and Russia that the E3 did not follow the JCPOA’s procedures.

The ministry criticised the European countries for what it described as a “pattern of non-compliance” and alignment with US sanctions following Washington’s 2018 withdrawal from the JCPOA.

Iran warned that the decision undermines its cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and could have “severe consequences for the credibility and structure of the Security Council.”

It reaffirmed Iran’s commitment to diplomacy and readiness to engage with Security Council members committed to dialogue, while promising that an official response to the European notification would be submitted to the Council.

Earlier on August 28, the foreign ministers of France, Germany, and the United Kingdom informed Iran in a phone call of their intention to formally notify the Security Council to initiate the JCPOA dispute resolution process.

"The E3 are committed to using every diplomatic tool available to ensure Iran never develops a nuclear weapon. That includes our decision to trigger the 'snapback' mechanism today through this notification. The E3's commitment to a diplomatic solution nonetheless remains steadfast. The E3 will fully make use of the 30-day period following the notification in order to resolve the issue giving rise to the notification," the E3 said in a letter to the UN.

By Sabina Mammadli