Russia Slams European Move to Trigger UN Sanctions Against Iran as “Illegal”
TEHRAN (Tasnim) - Russia has strongly condemned the European trio’s attempt to reimpose UN sanctions on Iran, as a serious mistake lacking legal basis and warning it would undermine diplomacy over Tehran’s nuclear program.
Moscow reacted sharply on Thursday after UK, France and Germany informed the UN Security Council of their intention to invoke the so-called “snapback mechanism” to restore sanctions against Iran.
Russian officials described the initiative as unlawful and counterproductive, stressing that it would only push the issue into deadlock and escalate tensions.
Mikhail Ulyanov, Russia’s permanent representative to international organizations in Vienna, called the European step “a big mistake” and “another irresponsible move” that would lead to “a total deadlock” on Iran’s nuclear file.
In a post on X, Ulyanov wrote: “The Ministers of Foreign Affairs of France, Germany and the UK informed today the President of the UN Security Council that they invoked the so-called SnapBack procedure aimed at restoration of all previous sanctions against Iran. This is a big mistake. Yet another irresponsible step of the E3 leading the situation to a total deadlock.”
Dmitry Polyanskiy, Russia’s deputy envoy to the UN, echoed the same position.
He said the European letter carried “no legal effect” and should not serve as a basis for any Security Council action.
“Such a move has no legitimacy,” he stated, emphasizing that the Council must not act on an unlawful and destabilizing step.
At the same time, Russia reiterated its joint initiative with China and Iran to extend UN Security Council Resolution 2231 for six months, until April 18, 2026.
Moscow described the draft as “an opportunity to preserve diplomacy” and urged Council members to support the measure, aimed at preventing the return of sanctions and keeping channels for negotiation open.
