After returning from a visit to China with the Iranian president, Araqchi stated that “Tehran does not fear negotiations, nor does it fear war if necessary,” emphasizing that “Russia and China have proposed a resolution regarding sanctions in the Security Council, and we consult with them continuously,” according to Iranian news agency IRNA.
Regarding rumors about the potential cancellation of Iran’s membership in the Shanghai Cooperation Organization following the activation of the ‘Snapback’ mechanism, Araqchi clarified: “There is no such provision, and this matter was not mentioned in the last meeting. On the contrary, the member states of Shanghai, in some way, announced their support for the Islamic Republic of Iran in this regard.”
Earlier last week, the Iranian Foreign Minister announced that the foreign ministers of France, Britain, and Germany, along with Kaja Kallas, had a phone conversation with him during which they informed him of their intention to activate the mechanism for re-imposing sanctions.
A statement from the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs clarified that the European ministers informed “our Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi, in a phone conversation an hour ago, of their intent to formally notify the UN Security Council of the launch of the mechanism to re-impose sanctions on Tehran, under the terms of the nuclear agreement.”
In the same context, Panama’s mission, which chairs the UN Security Council this month, announced that the European ‘Troika’ submitted an official letter requesting the activation of the mechanism to re-impose sanctions against Iran.
In a parallel development, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio confirmed that his country “remains ready for direct dialogue with Iran to resolve disputes regarding its nuclear file,” noting that the re-imposition of sanctions “does not conflict with continued diplomatic efforts but rather strengthens them.”
He added that “the United States remains committed to direct engagement with Iran to reach a peaceful and lasting solution to the Iranian nuclear issue. I urge Iranian leaders to take the necessary steps immediately to ensure their country does not possess a nuclear weapon and to follow the path of peace, thereby enhancing prosperity for the Iranian people.”
This mechanism stipulates that if Iran breaches its commitments, any party to the agreement can re-impose UN sanctions within a short timeframe. After the United States withdrew from the agreement in 2018, during the first term of President Donald Trump, the debate intensified over the legitimacy of continuing to operate this mechanism, while Tehran believes it lost its legal validity after that withdrawal.
