Europeans Have ‘No Moral, Legal Ground’ to Reactivate Snapback Sanctions: Iranian FM
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi told his European counterparts on Friday that they have no moral or legal grounds for reactivating UN sanctions, according to Al Arabiya.
Araqchi’s remarks come after Europeans threatened to do so in coming months if there is no progress in nuclear talks.
“If EU/E3 want to have a role, they should act responsibly and put aside the worn-out policies of threat and pressure, including the ‘snap-back’ for which they (have) absolutely no moral (or) legal grounds,” Araghchi said on X.
He also noted Tehran is ready for a new round of talks if the other side is willing to reach “a fair, balanced, and mutually beneficial nuclear deal.”
Araqchi’s statements came after his conference call with his British, French and German counterparts as well as European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas.
During the call, the European diplomats told Araqchi of “their determination to use the ‘snapback’ mechanism — which allows for the reimposition of all international sanctions against Iran — in the absence of concrete progress” towards a new deal on Iran’s nuclear program “by the end of the summer”, the French Foreign Ministry said.
In June, French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot said that the Europeans would be “justified” in pursuing a snapback of UN sanctions lifted under a 2015 nuclear deal between Iran and major powers.
The speculation about Tehran’s nuclear program has been increasing since Israel bombed Iranians nuclear facilities on June 13.
The US became directly involved in the conflict between Israel and Iran on June 22 after launching airstrikes on the Iranian nuclear facilities in Natanz, Fordow, and Isfahan.
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