Iran Summons Ambassadors of E3 Over UN Security Council Meeting

Asharq Al-Awsat

14-03-2025

Iran on Thursday summoned the ambassadors of the United Kingdom, France, and Germany in protest against their cooperation with the US in convening a closed-door meeting of the UN Security Council regarding Iran's nuclear program.
Meanwhile, Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said his country would consider the mediation of the three European countries to engage in indirect negotiations with Washington.
Also, Araqhchi has not ruled out talks with Washington, but says they can only take place if both countries are on 'equal terms,' an Iranian state-run newspaper reported.
On Thursday, Director-General for Peace and International Security at Iran's Foreign Ministry, Mohammad Hassan-Nejad Pirkouhi, summoned the ambassadors of the three European countries in protest against their 'collusion with the US in misusing the mechanisms of the UN Security Council to hold a closed-door meeting on Iran's peaceful nuclear program on March 12.'
Tehran said the closed-door Security Council meeting on Iran's nuclear program lacks any technical or legal justification and is a politically motivated and provocative move aligned with the unilateral and provocative policies of the United States,' the Ministry statement said.
During the summon, the Iranian Ministry informed the three European diplomats that Iran's peaceful nuclear program fully complies with its rights and obligations under the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) and the Safeguards Agreement. Iran's nuclear activities do not contradict the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA)—a framework that established voluntary confidence-building measures by Iran in exchange for the lifting of illegal and unjust sanctions.
Also, it noted that given the failure of the other parties to fulfill their commitments, Iran retains the legitimate right, under the JCPOA, to partially or fully suspend its own obligations in response to such violations.
The summon said the decision of the three European countries to comply with the US request for a Security Council session effectively aligns them with the very party that, in 2018, unilaterally and unlawfully withdrew from the JCPOA and grossly violated UN Security Council Resolution 2231, thereby triggering the subsequent deterioration of the agreement.
It added that the convening of the Security Council meeting on Iran's peaceful nuclear program is a form of destructive interference and a discrediting act against the technical mission of the Agency and jeopardizes the normal course of Iran-IAEA cooperation.
The summon came while Araghchi told the Iran newspaper that indirect talks over Tehran's nuclear program using a European channel involving the UK, Germany and France are ongoing.
The Iranian FM said Tehran is cooperating with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and that 'a new idea has been proposed to resolve issues, which is currently under review.'
He said Iran's strategy of patience is not passive. 'It is patience coupled with initiative. We do not simply sit and wait for others to make decisions for us. Even regarding potential nuclear negotiations, we have a plan and a strategy,' the Minister said.
He added that, 'Indirect talks are ongoing, the European channel remains open, and we are in cooperation with Mr. Grossi and the IAEA. A new idea for resolving issues has been proposed, and we are currently reviewing it.'
Highlighting Europe's mediation role in previous nuclear negotiations, Araghchi said the Europeans played a good intermediary role in the past, and they can do so again.
'We continue our talks with them, while also maintaining close consultations with Russia and China. However, ultimately, the US must lift its sanctions, and we will only enter direct negotiations when we are on equal footing—free from pressure and threats—ensuring that our national interests are safeguarded,' he noted.
Commenting on Iran's objection to negotiating with the Trump administration under the 'maximum pressure' policy, Araghchi said: 'If we enter negotiations while facing maximum pressure, we would be negotiating from a position of weakness and would gain nothing.'
'This is not about stubbornness or idealism; it is a technical matter. The other side must first realize that pressure tactics do not work—only then can we negotiate under equal conditions,' the FM added.