Iran, Russia, China Denounce EU Snapback Sanctions on Tehran as Illegal at UN
Iran, Russia, and China have formally submitted a joint letter to the United Nations rejecting European attempts to reinstate sanctions on Tehran under the “snapback” mechanism of the 2015 nuclear deal as “illegal” and “politically destructive.”
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| Image Source: TRPresidency |
The three countries argued that France, Germany, and the United Kingdom (E3) had no legal standing to trigger the mechanism under UN Security Council Resolution 2231, which endorsed the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).
The ministers stated that “any step or action taken in disregard or contravention of UNSCR 2231 cannot result in lawful international obligations,” calling the E3 move procedurally flawed and contrary to international law.
They added that what is at stake “is not only the rights of Iran but also the integrity and credibility of international agreements.”
The letter urged the Security Council to reject the claims of the E3 and reaffirm multilateral diplomacy.
It accused the European powers of deepening divisions and undermining commitments despite Iran’s compliance for years before the U.S. withdrawal from the JCPOA in May 2018.
The move comes as Iranian Foreign Minister Araghchi publicized the letter on social media, underscoring Tehran’s stance that reciprocal steps it took after U.S. withdrawal and sanctions cannot serve as grounds for punitive “snapback” measures.
🇷🇺🇮🇷🤝 Russia's President Vladimir #Putin and President of Iran @drpezeshkian met on the sidelines of the #SCO Summit.
— MFA Russia 🇷🇺 (@mfa_russia) September 1, 2025
📹 © https://t.co/1iwVtSG6SN#RussiaIran pic.twitter.com/hmpVvxd1BI
On the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit in Tianjin, Russian President Vladimir Putin and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian also held bilateral talks, with Moscow reaffirming its alignment with Tehran.
The Russian Foreign Ministry posted video highlights, framing the meeting as part of broader multipolar cooperation within the SCO.
Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, meanwhile, emphasized the strategic partnership with China, posting in Persian, Chinese, and English that “Iran and China are two countries with ancient civilizations… implementing all dimensions of our strategic partnership will help pave the way for regional and global transformation.”
The joint Iran–Russia–China stance adds another dimension to the multipolar momentum underscored at the SCO Summit, where Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping also held talks and Russian President Putin briefed partners on his U.S. summit in Alaska.