Iran Protests UN’s Move on Snapback Resolutions as Illegal

In a formal letter to the UN secretary general and the president of the Security Council, Saeed Iravani emphasized that Resolution 2231 grants no authority to the Secretariat to declare or notify member states about reinstating terminated resolutions.

The letter noted that by acting unilaterally, the Secretariat exceeded its mandate, sided with the United States and three European countries, and violated Article 100 of the UN Charter, which requires the Secretariat to remain independent and impartial.

What follows is the text of his letter:

Excellency,

Further to the letter dated 27 September from the Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Republic of Iran, I wish to convey, in the strongest terms, our categorical objection to the action taken today by the Secretariat in "notifying Member States" of the so-called Re-application of terminated resolutions concerning the Islamic Republic of Iran. In this regard, I would like to draw your attention to the following:

Resolution 2231 does not provide any mandate whatsoever to the Secretary-General or the Secretariat to determine, declare, or notify Member States about the so-called reapplication of terminated resolutions. The resolution sets out a specific mechanism under operative paragraphs 11 and 12, placing the matter exclusively within the purview of the Security Council.

By acting unilaterally, the Secretariat has exceeded its authority and trespassed into the domain of the Council. The precedent of October 2020 is clear: when similar claims of "snapback" were raised by the United States, deep divisions within the Security Council over the validity of such a claim prevented the Secretariat from taking any unilateral or administrative steps to give effect to it. The restraint shown at that time reaffirmed the absence of any mandate under resolution 2231 for the Secretariat to act independently in this highly contested matter.

By deliberately issuing this notification despite evident and fundamental disagreement among Security Council members, and in the face of the lack of consensus at the UNSC meeting on 19 September 2025, the Secretariat has taken sides with the three European countries and the United States. This action constitutes a serious breach of Article 100 of the Charter, which obliges the Secretary-General and the staff of the Secretariat to refrain from seeking or receiving instructions from any member or external authority, and to maintain the highest standard of independence and impartiality.

The Secretariat's partiality in this matter undermines its credibility and impartial standing as an international civil service. Such conduct severely damages the trust of Member States in the Office of Secretariat and sets a dangerous precedent of politicization of the Secretariat's role.

The Islamic Republic of Iran firmly rejects the action taken by the Secretariat today as null and void, lacking any legal basis, and in direct contravention of the Charter. We urge that this grave breach be immediately rectified and that assurances be provided that the Secretariat will fully respect its obligations under Article 100 of the Charter, refraining from any further action or interference in matters.

I would be grateful if you would circulate the present letter and its attachment as a document of the Security Council.

Please accept, Excellency, the assurances of our highest consideration.