EU3 Failed to Honor JCPOA Commitments, Lacks Authority to Invoke Snapback Mechanism: Iran

In a letter addressed to UN Secretary General António Guterres, along with the President of the Security Council and its members, and EU High Representative Kaja Kallas, Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi underscored Tehran's position on Sunday.

Araqchi emphasized that the three European nations have supported Israel’s aggression toward Iran, rejected the fundamental tenets of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), and failed to honor their commitments to the JCPOA agreement.

The foreign minister noted that Iran had exhausted the JCPOA’s dispute resolution process following the US withdrawal from the deal. However, instead of collaborating, the EU3 aligned themselves with Washington's so-called "maximum pressure" campaign against Iran.

He stated that through their actions and statements -- such as providing political and material support for the recent unprovoked military aggression of the Israeli regime and the US, rejecting the main pillars of the JCPOA, and their ongoing failure to meet their commitments --the EU3 have forfeited their status as “Participants” in the JCPOA.

Consequently, any attempts to reinstate terminated UNSC resolutions are rendered null and void, Araqchi emphasized. Iran initially responded to the unilateral US withdrawal from the JCPOA by fully utilizing the accord’s dispute resolution mechanisms before gradually implementing remedial measures as outlined in Paragraph 36 of the JCPOA, the foreign minister noted. 

Iran endeavored to encourage the other "Participants" to return to compliance, Iran’s top diplomat said. 

“However, the EU3 have reneged on their commitments and actively contributed to the so-called US ‘maximum pressure’ policy, and recently, the military aggression against our people too. Actors with such a record ought to be the last to claim ‘good faith,’” Araqchi noted.

The EU3 must not be permitted to undermine the credibility of the UN Security Council by misusing a resolution that they themselves have not honored, Araghchi added.

“The EU3 must heed their own advice to the US in their letter of 20 Aug 2020 and refrain from any action that would only deepen divisions in the Security Council or that would have serious adverse consequences on its work,” he said.

In conclusion, Araqchi reaffirmed that Iran has consistently demonstrated its capability to confront any misguided “dirty work,” while remaining open to reciprocating sincere diplomatic efforts in good faith.

In talks with his German, French, and British counterparts and Kallas on Thursday, Araqchi said the EU and European troika need to abandon their “worn-out policies” of threat and pressure if they seek to play a role in any new round of nuclear talks between Iran and the United States.

Pointing to repeated European threats about the activation of a mechanism that would re-impose hefty sanctions on the Islamic Republic, Araqchi said, “If EU/E3 want to have a role, they should act responsibly, and put aside the worn-out policies of threat and pressure, including the 'snapback' for which they lack absolutely no moral and legal ground.”

Snapback would bring into force six previous Iran-related Security Council resolutions adopted between 2006 and 2010. It would reinstate the expired UN arms embargo that barred countries from supplying, selling, or transferring most military equipment to Iran and prohibited Tehran from exporting any weapons.

It would also impose export controls, travel bans, asset freezes, and other restrictions on individuals, entities, and banks.

Iran and the United States held five rounds of indirect talks on Tehran’s peaceful nuclear program before June 13, when the Israeli regime launched an unprovoked act of aggression on the Islamic Republic, assassinating many high-ranking military commanders and nuclear scientists in addition to ordinary civilians.

Mediated by Oman, the 6th round of talks was planned to be held in the Omani capital of Muscat on June 15, but was called off due to the anti-Iran attacks.

On June 22, the United States officially joined the war against Iran by launching attacks on three nuclear facilities in the country in violation of the United Nations Charter and the Non-Proliferation Treaty.