BAKU, Azerbaijan, September 28. The Foreign
Ministry of the Islamic Republic of Iran considers the action taken
by the three European countries – the UK, Germany, and France –
plus the US, misusing the dispute resolution mechanism outlined in
the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) and UN Security
Council Resolution 2231 to reinstate previously terminated
resolutions against Iran, as illegal and unjustified, Trend reports.
It emphasizes that Resolution 2231 and its associated
restrictions on Iran’s peaceful nuclear program must be deemed
concluded by the scheduled date of October 18, 2025.
The three European countries, under US pressure and provocation,
initiated the so-called Snapback mechanism despite their own
persistent and significant failure to fulfill JCPOA commitments,
amounting to a “gross non-performance,” and have exploited the
dispute resolution process.
Meanwhile, they have flagrantly violated international law and
the non-proliferation regime, particularly Article 2(4) of the UN
Charter by explicitly or implicitly supporting military aggression
by Israel and the US against Iran’s peaceful nuclear facilities
governed under the JCPOA and the IAEA safeguards regime.
These actions constitute clear breaches of both the JCPOA and
Resolution 2231. Like the US, the European parties have acted in
bad faith, consistently violating the letter and spirit of the
JCPOA and making no genuine effort to resolve disputes.
The attempt to revive terminated resolutions is not only legally
baseless and indefensible, but also ethically and logically
unacceptable. The Islamic Republic of Iran’s peaceful nuclear
program was comprehensively addressed in Resolution 2231 and its
annex, the JCPOA, and the ten-year timeframe stipulated therein
must be considered concluded on October 18, 2025.
The three European countries failed to adhere to the provisions
of UN Security Council Resolution 2231 during their pursuit of this
issue. Operational Paragraph 11 of Resolution 2231 clearly states
that the Security Council must “take into account the views of the
relevant states.” It is regrettable that, despite the clear
positions of other JCPOA members – specifically Iran, China, and
the Russian Federation – the Council President, under pressure from
the European trio and the US, illegally put the draft resolution to
a vote. As emphasized in the joint letter by the foreign ministers
of China, Iran, and Russia dated August 28, 2025, the Security
Council cannot act based on the flawed notification submitted by
the three European countries. Any action contrary to or
inconsistent with Resolution 2231 cannot create legal obligations
for UN member states.
Accordingly, the Islamic Republic of Iran rejects the claim by
the three European countries and the US regarding the reinstatement
of past resolutions that were terminated under Resolution 2231 in
2015. Iran stresses that no obligations arise for UN member states,
including the Islamic Republic of Iran, under the provisions or
mechanisms of the annulled resolutions, and all countries must
refrain from recognizing this unlawful situation that contradicts
Resolution 2231. The Islamic Republic of Iran’s principled position
on this matter has been formally conveyed in a letter dated
September 27, 2025 to the UN Secretary-General.
It is worth recalling that over the past two decades, the
Islamic Republic of Iran has repeatedly demonstrated its commitment
to dialogue and diplomacy in resolving issues related to its
peaceful nuclear program. Iran has shown readiness to find a
rational and fair solution that guarantees the rights and interests
of the Iranian people in the peaceful use of nuclear energy, while
also ensuring transparency and confidence in the peaceful nature of
its nuclear activities.
In this regard, Iran fully implemented the JCPOA provisions from
2015 to 2019 – up to one year after the unlawful US withdrawal –
and structured its remedial measures under Articles 26 and 36 of
the JCPOA from May 2019 in a way that would allow for an immediate
return to its commitments if the European parties and the US
resumed theirs.
Over the past four years, Iran has also presented numerous
initiatives and proposals for the full reimplementation of JCPOA
obligations by all parties, or for negotiating a new understanding
to resolve the issues surrounding its nuclear program. All such
efforts have failed due to the lack of seriousness and good faith
on the part of the three European countries and the US.
Military attacks by Israel and the US on Iran’s nuclear
facilities between 13th and 24th of June 2025, and the accompanying
support of three European countries for the aggressors, mark the
peak of their gross JCPOA violations and clear bad faith.
Undoubtedly, the criminal act of military aggression against
Iran, which resulted in the martyrdom and injury of numerous
Iranian citizens, the destruction of nuclear facilities, and damage
to vital national infrastructure, not only entails criminal
responsibility for the perpetrators and masterminds of the crime,
but also imposes international responsibility on the aggressor
parties for committing internationally wrongful acts. The Islamic
Republic of Iran will utilize all available legal instruments to
prosecute and punish the perpetrators and to seek compensation.
Over the past two months, the Islamic Republic of Iran has made
significant efforts to prevent the misuse of the JCPOA’s dispute
resolution mechanism by the three European countries. These efforts
included signing of an understanding with the International Atomic
Energy Agency (IAEA) on September 9, 2025 and submitting
constructive and rational proposals regarding this and other issues
related to Iran’s nuclear program. However, these initiatives
failed due to the disregard and excessive demands of the three
European countries and the US.
In reality, instead of creating the necessary space for
diplomacy and engagement, the three European countries and the US
have chosen a path of confrontation and crisis escalation. They
mistakenly believe that by resorting to the tactic of reviving
annulled UN Security Council resolutions, they can gain a new
leverage of pressure. The Islamic Republic of Iran will firmly
defend the rights and national interests of Iran, and any move
aimed at harming those interests will be met with an appropriate
and resolute response.
It’s worth noting that last night, the UN Security Council held
a meeting to consider the initial text of Resolution 2231,
sponsored by Russia and China, on extending the resolution and
preventing the activation of the snapback mechanism. Four countries
voted in favor of the resolution, nine voted against, and two
abstained. Thus, as of September 28, UN Security Council
resolutions against Iran have been reinstated.
It should be added that on July 20, 2015, the UN Security
Council adopted Resolution 2231. This resolution led to the repeal
of six previous resolutions against Iran and extensive sanctions
related to the Iranian nuclear program.
It should be noted that, according to Articles 36 and 37 of the
Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, various stages are initiated
upon a complaint by one of the participating states regarding the
plan’s violation by the other party. If these stages are
unsuccessful, the complaining state may raise the issue with the UN
Security Council. If Iran’s complaint is filed and accepted by the
UN Security Council, international sanctions against Iran may be
reinstated. Furthermore, this plan grants UN Security Council
members the authority to take military action against Iran.
