Iran’s foreign minister sang Abbas Aragci on Friday in a call with his counterparts in France, the UK and Germany and the head of foreign policy for the EU, Kaja Karas. Reaffirming Tehran’s commitment to diplomacy, he warned that the European trio and the EU lacked legal and moral authority to evoke the so-called “snapback” mechanism.
During the call, Araguchi outlined the Islamic Republic’s position on snapback mechanisms, highlighting the lack of legal and moral authority that European countries and the European Union would call it.
He also warned of the potential consequences of such actions.
Aragut stressed that Iran has firmly defended its interests, but has never abandoned diplomacy and is ready to pursue a diplomatic solution that protects the rights and interests of Iranian people.
In response to repeated proposals to expand UN Security Council resolution 2231 to allow more time for diplomacy, Iran said such a decision was fundamentally within the scope of the UN Security Council and that Iran would not interfere in the process.
He added that Iran will consult with the Security Council allies about the implications of such measures and how they will go forward.
Three European ministers and the EU diplomatic leaders reiterated their commitment to finding a diplomatic solution.
It was agreed that dialogue between Iran and the European countries and the EU will continue at the level of the Deputy Minister next Tuesday.
On August 8, three European forces, France, the UK and Germany, submitted a letter to the UN Security Council outlining their positions on the “snapback” mechanism and proposals regarding the future of Resolution 2231.
In exchange for resuming direct negotiations with Washington, E3 claimed it had provided Tehran with a limited extension of some provisions related to the resolution and measures to address what they described as the most urgent concerns about Iran’s nuclear activities.
They further argued that the short-term extension would buy time to pursue new contracts while maintaining the threat of reimposed UN sanctions as leverage.
Iranian officials have become categorized to reject European stances. Foreign Minister Abbas Araguchi said the conditions for meaningful consultations with the US “have not yet matured,” but Vice Minister Foreign Minister Saeed Katibzadeh warned that pressure on Iran is a miscalculation that forces Tehran to make a difficult decision.
Iranian authorities argue that such an approach will not only waste the last remaining cards in Europe, but will strip the three countries of the three-country mediating role.