Russia, China Push UN Resolution to Defuse Europe’s Snapback Move
TEHRAN (Tasnim) - A draft resolution submitted by Russia and China at the UN Security Council marks the last chance to ease tensions over Europe’s activation of a dispute mechanism tied to the nuclear deal, according to Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi.
The Security Council is expected to vote Friday on the proposal, which seeks to extend the diplomatic framework for handling disputes under the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) and Resolution 2231, according to PressTV.
Kazem Gharibabadi, speaking to representatives of 10 non-permanent council members in New York, underscored Tehran’s commitment to diplomacy.
“I noted that the draft resolution submitted by Russia and China for the technical extension of Resolution 2231 represents the last opportunity to prevent the escalation of tensions caused by the US and the Europeans,” he said.
“I also stressed that each member of the Security Council bears a heavy responsibility in this regard. They must either reaffirm their commitment to diplomacy and fulfill their duty to maintain international peace and security, or fully accept accountably for disrupting the diplomatic path and its consequences.”
He dismissed recent statements from US and European officials about their commitment to talks as “unrealistic and insincere,” pointing to Iran’s recent diplomatic efforts.
Last month, Britain, France and Germany triggered a 30-day process to restore UN sanctions against Iran through the JCPOA’s snapback mechanism in order to restore all UNSC sanctions against Iran.
Iran has rejected the move as illegitimate, citing Washington’s unilateral withdrawal from the deal in 2018 and the trio's decision to align with unlawful sanctions rather than fulfilling their JCPOA obligations.
On Sept. 9, Tehran signed an agreement in Cairo with the International Atomic Energy Agency to resume cooperation with the UN’s atomic watchdog.
Gharibabadi warned that Iran would respond to any hostile measures.
“Iran will respond appropriately to any hostile actions, such as the reinstatement of [previously] terminated UNSC resolutions. As a first step, the Cairo agreement between Iran and the Agency will end,” he said.
The JCPOA, reached in 2015, required Iran to curb its nuclear program in exchange for sanctions relief.
The United States quit the accord in 2018 and reimposed sanctions under its “maximum pressure” campaign.
Following that move, European signatories failed to deliver on their commitments and the deal faltered.
UN sanctions on Iran are due to be reimposed at 0000 GMT on Saturday.
The Russia-China draft resolution would postpone the process by six months and call on all parties to the JCPOA to immediately resume negotiations.
