Iran's Deputy FM: We Coordinate with China, Russia to Counter Snapback

Asharq Al-Awsat

17 hours ago

Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister for Legal and International Affairs, Kazem Gharibabadi said on Sunday that his country is closely coordinating with China and Russia to respond to the 'snapback' mechanism should the E3 decide to invoke the United Nations sanctions over Tehran's nuclear program before it is set to expire on Oct. 18.
According to Committee spokesman Ebrahim Rezaei, Gharibabadi told deputies that the European signatories to the 2015 nuclear deal have no legal grounds to invoke the snapback mechanism, as they have failed to fulfill their own commitments under the agreement.
Rezaei said the deputy foreign minister presented a detailed report to the Iranian Parliament following talks were held in Istanbul last month with counterparts from the European trio and the EU, addressing prospects for resuming negotiations.
The E3 have set a deadline of the end of August to revive diplomacy. Diplomats say they want Iran to take concrete steps to convince them to extend the deadline by up to six months.
In this regard, Gharibabadi said the European side proposed extending UN Security Council Resolution 2231 for an additional six months under specific conditions.
However, he added, 'We proposed that instead of extending Resolution 2231, negotiations should focus on ending the Snapback mechanism altogether. The resolution must expire at its predetermined date. Decisions will be made based on our national interests and security.'
Concerning talks with the US, Gharibabadi said there have been no recent developments.
'The Iranian people's rights—such as uranium enrichment, lifting of sanctions, compensation for damages, and rebuilding trust—must be respected,' he noted.
Rezaei said committee members warned against stirring public fear over the Snapback mechanism. 'The West and Europeans are not trustworthy. They've violated their own commitments,' he stated, while stressing Iran should prioritize its internal capabilities and strengthen ties with China and Russia, according to ISNA.
Gharibabadi's comments however appeared to contradict remarks made by another deputy foreign minister, Saeed Khatibzadeh, who said the IAEA inspectors would return to Tehran soon.
Speaking to Chinese broadcaster Phoenix, Khatibzadeh said Parliament's recent decision does not mandate severing ties with the IAEA.
Rather, he said, it places the Supreme National Security Council in charge of managing relations. 'We're implementing a new mechanism, but we have no intention of halting cooperation,' the deputy FM said.
'Inspectors left voluntarily amid the conflict and attacks. They were not expelled,' Khatibzadeh said, adding that the inspectors would return to Iran in the coming weeks.
Concerning talks with the US, he said, 'We are not in a hurry to enter any indirect talks or frameworks unless solid guarantees are provided for meaningful negotiations.'
'The United States observes no red lines when it comes to attacking peaceful nuclear facilities in other nations. It must be taught a lesson—it cannot recklessly and brutally violate the sovereignty and territorial integrity of others,' he added.
Khatibzadeh declined to provide specific details when asked about the fate of Iran's 60% enriched uranium stockpile.
On Sunday, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi was quoted by a local newspaper responding to the Financial Times on the same matter. When asked about the stockpile's current status, Araghchi said, 'I don't know.'