Russia has condemned Britain, France, and Germany’s threats to reinstate sanctions on Iran through the JCPOA snapback mechanism as irresponsible and unlawful. Russia called on these nations to focus on finding diplomatic solutions instead. Meanwhile, the EU continues to push Iran for compliance with its nuclear commitments amidst ongoing tensions.
Russia has criticized the recent threats by Britain, France, and Germany to reinstate sanctions against Iran through the snapback mechanism of the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA). It labeled such threats as “irresponsible” and “unlawful,” urging the European nations to redirect their focus toward resolving the issues they have contributed to. The snapback option allows any party to the JCPOA to restore UN sanctions if Iran violates its terms.
Since the U.S. withdrew from the JCPOA in 2018, implementing a stringent maximum pressure policy, the other signatories have been unable to ensure Iran’s interests under the deal. Iran waited for a year for European efforts to mitigate U.S. sanctions but began to curb its nuclear commitments when those attempts failed, in line with provisions in the JCPOA.
During an International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) session, Russia’s Ambassador Mikhail Ulyanov criticized the European nations for their failure to meet their UN Security Council obligations and their intent to penalize Iran for these shortcomings. Ulyanov stated, “We consider such rhetoric not only irresponsible, but also unlawful”. He urged Germany, France, and the UK to prioritize a political solution over punitive measures related to the snapback.
In response, the EU’s Ambassador Carl Hallergard reaffirmed the EU’s commitment to a diplomatic resolution regarding the JCPOA concerns. He accused Iran of increasing regional nuclear proliferation risks and urged the country to cooperate effectively with the IAEA. Hallergard supported the IAEA Director-General’s efforts for constructive engagement with Iran.
In summary, Russia has condemned the European threats to reactivate the snapback mechanism against Iran as irresponsible and unlawful. It highlighted the failure of these nations to uphold their obligations under the JCPOA, ultimately urging them to seek diplomatic solutions instead of punitive measures. Conversely, the EU maintains that Iran must fulfill its commitments while acknowledging the ongoing efforts to achieve a diplomatic resolution.
Original Source: en.mehrnews.com
