In a joint communication to the IAEA on October 30, the Permanent Representatives of Iran, Russia, and China informed IAEA Director-General Rafael Grossi that with the October 18, 2025 expiration of UN Security Council Resolution 2231, the IAEA’s mandate to report on Iran’s nuclear activities under that resolution had officially ended.
The three countries also reiterated their opposition to Europe’s “snapback” initiative, saying it has no legal basis, and called on all parties to pursue dialogue and diplomacy rather than unilateral measures.
Below is the text of the letter from Iran’s Saeed Irabani, China’s Hu Kong, and Russia’s Vasily Nebenzia.
Your Honor,
We are proud to send as an attachment the joint letter of the Ambassadors and Permanent Representatives of the People’s Republic of China, the Islamic Republic of Iran, and the Russian Federation to His Excellency Rafael Mariano Grossi, Director-General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), regarding the expiration of the security period on October 18, 2025, dated October 24, 2025. Council resolution 2231 (2015) and the consequent termination of the Secretary-General’s mandate to report on verification and monitoring pursuant to that resolution.
We would appreciate it if you would distribute this letter and its attachments as official documents of the Security Council.
Your Excellency, please be assured that we have taken the utmost care.
His Excellency Mr. Rafael Mariano Grossi, Director General of the IAEA
Your Honor,
We, the Ambassadors and Permanent Representatives of the People’s Republic of China, the Islamic Republic of Iran, and the Russian Federation, are proud to refer to the joint letter of the Ministers of Foreign Affairs dated 28 August 2025 (INFCIRC1314-A/79/1004-S/2025/546). In it, both countries express their common position regarding recent actions by the UK, France and Germany (E3). United Nations Security Council Resolution 2231 (2015).
We reaffirm that the so-called “snapback” exercise by E3 is legally and procedurally flawed by its very nature. The E3 has violated its commitments under both the JCPOA and UN Security Council Resolution 2231, has failed to enforce the procedures established under the Dispute Resolution Mechanism (DRM), and lacks the necessary standing to invoke its provisions.
We therefore confirm that, in accordance with Security Council resolution 2231, all its provisions have come to an end on 18 October 2025. In light of this termination, the IAEA Director-General’s reporting obligations regarding verification and monitoring pursuant to Security Council Resolution 2231 have expired. In the IAEA, implementation of the JCPOA and verification and monitoring in the Islamic Republic of Iran under UN Security Council Resolution 2231 was established by Council Resolution of December 15, 2015 (GOV/2015/72). This resolution remains in force and is the only guideline by which the IAEA Secretariat is bound on this issue.
Operational paragraph 14 of this resolution clearly provides that the Council “determines to keep this matter on hold until the earlier of 10 years from the date of adoption of the JCPOA or the date on which the Director-General reports that the Organization has reached broad conclusions regarding Iran.” As a result, as of October 18, 2025, the relevant agenda item will be automatically removed from the Board’s agenda and no further action will be required in this regard.
Both countries reiterate that it is important that the parties concerned remain committed to finding a political solution that responds to the concerns of all parties through diplomatic engagement and dialogue based on principles of mutual respect, and that it is important to refrain from unilateral sanctions, threats of force, and other actions that may escalate the situation, and that all countries should contribute to creating a favorable atmosphere and conditions for diplomatic efforts.
The Government Missions of China, the Russian Federation, and the Islamic Republic of Iran request that this letter be formally circulated by the Secretariat as an INFCIRC document to all IAEA Member States.
Your Excellency, please be assured that we have taken the utmost care.
MNA/TSN