Russia criticizes Britain, France, and Germany for threatening to activate snapback sanctions against Iran, labeling such threats as irresponsible. The controversy stems from the U.S. withdrawal from the Iran nuclear deal in 2018, leading to Iran’s reduction of its nuclear obligations. Both Russia and the EU call for diplomatic engagement to resolve issues related to the JCPOA, urging constructive dialogue over punitive actions.
Russia has strongly criticized recent threats made by Britain, France, and Germany regarding the activation of the snapback mechanism of sanctions on Iran. This mechanism, established under the 2015 Iran nuclear deal, the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), permits any party to reimpose United Nations sanctions if Iran violates the terms of the agreement. Russia has argued that the European powers should instead concentrate on resolving the predicament they have caused.
The snapback mechanism became contentious following the United States’ withdrawal from the JCPOA in 2018 and its ensuing stringent sanctions against Iran. Subsequently, while the Europeans pledged to uphold Iran’s interests, they were unable to mitigate the impact of U.S. sanctions. After a year of inaction, Iran commenced reducing its compliance with nuclear commitments as stipulated by the JCPOA, signaling its dissatisfaction with the status quo.
During a session of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Board of Governors, Russia’s Permanent Representative, Mikhail Ulyanov, remarked on the inappropriateness of the UK, German, and French threats, labeling them as “irresponsible” and “unlawful.” He urged these nations to cease their fixation on the snapback threat and focus their energy on diplomatic solutions to the crisis they have contributed to.
In response, EU Ambassador Carl Hallergard reiterated the EU’s dedication to finding a diplomatic resolution to the JCPOA-related issues. He accused Iran of exacerbating nuclear proliferation risks by deviating significantly from its JCPOA commitments, while neglecting the violations by other signatory states. Hallergard also stressed the need for Iran to cooperate with the IAEA promptly and fully support the Director-General’s engagement efforts.
In conclusion, Russia has condemned the European trio’s threats to trigger snapback sanctions against Iran as counterproductive and unlawful. The backdrop of this tension is rooted in the failure of Western powers to uphold their commitments following the U.S. withdrawal from the JCPOA. Both Russia and the EU are advocating for diplomatic pathways to resolve the ongoing nuclear crisis, urging a focus on constructive dialogue rather than punitive measures.
Original Source: en.mehrnews.com
