Lavrov and Araghchi Hold Phone Call to Discuss Iran’s Nuclear Deal and Developments Related to Snapback Mechanism

Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi held a phone conversation with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov to discuss recent developments related to the 2015 Iran nuclear agreement, amid growing tensions with European countries over the potential activation of the “snapback mechanism” to reimpose international sanctions on Tehran.

According to Iran’s Mehr News Agency, the two officials exchanged views on the positions of the three European signatories to the deal—France, Germany, and the United Kingdom—and their efforts to trigger the snapback mechanism stipulated in the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).

Both ministers stated that the actions of the European parties represent a breach of United Nations Security Council Resolution 2231, citing what they described as a failure to fulfill their obligations under the JCPOA. They also referenced what they view as European cooperation with the United States in targeting Iran’s peaceful nuclear facilities.

They emphasized that, in their view, these countries no longer possess the legal or moral grounds to initiate the JCPOA’s dispute resolution mechanism aimed at reinstating previously lifted UN sanctions.

The ministers also underlined the importance of allowing Resolution 2231 to expire as scheduled, and stressed the need to preserve diplomatic efforts as the primary path for addressing nuclear-related disagreements.

The phone call comes as the so-called European troika (France, Germany, and the UK) has threatened to reinstate sanctions under the snapback provision. European demands include renewed access for International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) inspectors to Iranian nuclear sites, as well as clarification on the whereabouts of approximately 400 kilograms of highly enriched uranium, which have reportedly been unaccounted for following a recent U.S. strike on Iranian nuclear facilities.

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