Iran’s deputy foreign minister for legal and international affairs, Kazem Gharibabadi, called for diplomacy to be given ’time and space.’
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei said on Aug. 26 that a delegation from Tehran told negotiators from the United Kingdom, France, and Germany that triggering so-called snapback sanctions would have consequences.
Baghaei said Tehran told the European countries—collectively known as the E3—that they do not have the right to trigger the snapback mechanism over Iran’s nuclear program. He did not provide details about the possible consequences.
Talks in Geneva, Switzerland, are continuing as the E3 seeks to persuade Iran to make concessions that would avoid the need to reimpose United Nations sanctions, which were suspended as part of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) deal in 2015.
The mechanism is set to lapse on Oct. 18, but the E3 has said it will begin the reimposition process unless Iran makes concessions by Aug. 31.
If the mechanism is initiated, it would mean a return to wide-ranging sanctions on Iran, including a conventional arms embargo, restrictions on ballistic missile development, asset freezes, and travel bans for individuals involved in the regime or the nuclear program.
The mechanism allows for sanctions to be reimposed without being vetoed by Russia or China, both of whom are permanent members of the U.N. Security Council.
Iran ‘Committed to Diplomacy’
Iran’s deputy foreign minister for legal and international affairs, Kazem Gharibabadi, said in an Aug. 26 post on X that Iran remains “committed to diplomacy and a mutually beneficial diplomatic solution.”
“High time for the E3 and UNSC to make the right choice, and give diplomacy time and space,” Gharibabadi said.
The E3 agreed with the United States to set an end-of-August deadline for triggering the snapback sanctions if Iran failed to meet several conditions.
They included allowing U.N. nuclear inspectors access to all sites in Iran, and accounting for 400 kilograms of highly enriched uranium.
Another condition was that Iran must resume direct negotiations with the United States over its nuclear program.
Iranian leader Ali Khamenei gave a speech on Aug. 24 in which he refused direct negotiations with the United States and said the situation was unsolvable.
Russia proposed a draft resolution on Aug. 24 to delay the expiration of the snapback mechanism clause until spring 2026.
