Araqchi: European Troika Will Not Win in the Snapback Game

According to Rokna, Seyyed Abbas Araqchi, Foreign Minister of the Islamic Republic of Iran, in a note published in the Jakarta Post, described the move by the three European countries party to the JCPOA—Britain, France, and Germany—to activate the snapback mechanism as legally and politically baseless and a serious threat to Europe’s international credibility and the 2015 nuclear agreement. He emphasized that countries violating their commitments cannot benefit from an agreement they themselves have undermined.

Araqchi referred to the U.S.’s unilateral withdrawal from the JCPOA in 2018 and Europe’s subsequent compliance with Washington’s illegal sanctions, calling these the main reason for Iran’s compensatory reactions. He also condemned U.S. military attacks on Iran’s nuclear facilities on the eve of negotiations and criticized Europe’s role in supporting these attacks as destructive.

Furthermore, Araqchi highlighted the recent agreement between Iran and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), mediated by Egypt, describing it as a step toward diplomacy and the protection of Iran’s rights under the NPT. He warned that if previously lifted sanctions are reinstated, Iran will consider its cooperation with the IAEA terminated.

The Iranian Foreign Minister, while appreciating Indonesia’s support for Palestine, emphasized the need for Islamic countries to unite against the Zionist regime and to reform flawed international institutions. He described recent Israeli attacks on regional countries as evidence of the regime’s aggressive policy aimed at implementing the “Greater Israel” plan, which poses a serious threat to regional security.

The full note reads as follows:

The actions of the European Troika (Britain, France, and Germany) to activate the snapback mechanism will inflict irreparable damage on Europe’s international reputation and credibility. This mechanism, designed to enforce compliance with key obligations under the 2015 nuclear agreement signed by Iran, the three European countries, the U.S., China, and Russia, has been misused.

As emphasized in the joint letter by Iran, China, and Russia, the European Troika’s activation of the snapback mechanism lacks legal and legitimate grounds and is politically destructive. Countries failing to meet their obligations have no right to benefit from an agreement they have undermined. No action can disregard the sequence of events that led Iran to adopt compensatory legal measures under the JCPOA.

It was the U.S. in 2018 that unilaterally withdrew from the JCPOA, violating UN Security Council Resolution 2231—not Iran. This destructive move, compounded by the European Troika’s failure to honor its JCPOA commitments and its support for Washington’s illegal sanctions, has now led these three countries to demand the reimposition of UN sanctions under the pretext of Iran’s alleged non-cooperation. These countries, having supported illegal U.S. military attacks in June 2025 on Iran’s peaceful nuclear facilities—which are protected under international law—have further facilitated Washington’s overreach. These attacks coincided with the sixth round of indirect Iran-U.S. negotiations.

By initiating this game, the European Troika has inflicted numerous negative consequences on Europe’s international credibility and standing. In this game, the three European countries will not only fail to win but will also be excluded from future diplomatic processes. Should this brief opportunity for a course correction be missed, widespread destructive consequences will affect the West Asian region and the international system, weakening the foundations of collective security and undermining the credibility of international agreements.

The Islamic Republic of Iran has always demonstrated maximum restraint, maintaining its steadfast commitment to resolve peaceful nuclear matters through diplomacy and negotiation, and achieving a new and just agreement that respects national sovereignty and Iranian rights under the NPT while addressing all mutual concerns, including the oppressive sanctions that target the livelihood and welfare of the Iranian people.

Despite facing illegal and criminal attacks from the Zionist regime and the U.S., Iran has maintained its rights to peaceful nuclear energy under the NPT and remains ready for constructive and meaningful dialogue on this matter.

On September 9, 2025, Iran signed a new agreement with the IAEA, mediated by Egypt. This agreement is another milestone in Iran’s diplomatic efforts to resolve peaceful nuclear matters while respecting national sovereignty and ensuring Iran’s legitimate rights, maintaining cooperation within an agreed framework.

Iran will never compromise on its sovereignty, rights, or security. Accordingly, this agreement will be implemented in accordance with the law “Requiring the Government to Suspend Cooperation with the IAEA,” passed by Iran’s Parliament and overseen by the Supreme National Security Council, and will remain valid as long as no hostile actions, including the reinstatement of previously lifted UN Security Council resolutions, are taken. Otherwise, the Islamic Republic will consider its practical measures terminated.

The law “Requiring the Government to Suspend Cooperation with the IAEA” was approved on June 25, 2025, by the Iranian Parliament, confirmed by the Guardian Council, and promulgated by President Masoud Pezeshkian. It was enacted in response to U.S. and Israeli attacks on Iran’s peaceful nuclear facilities to protect national interests and nuclear security.

Finally, while appreciating the steadfast support of the government and people of Indonesia for the oppressed Palestinian people and condemning Israel’s aggressive acts against Iran and other regional countries, the Iranian Foreign Minister once again stressed the need for Islamic countries to unite against Israel, confront double standards in international law, and reform flawed multilateral structures.

The repeated inaction of international institutions against Israel’s blatant violations of international law has undermined the legitimacy of foundational international norms and enabled the expansion of Israel’s crimes in West Asia. Israel’s recent attacks on five Arab countries—Palestine, Lebanon, Syria, Qatar, and Yemen—once again revealed its aggressive and expansionist nature in pursuit of its long-standing ambition to control all lands between the Nile and the Euphrates, a “Greater Israel” plan officially and publicly advocated by Benjamin Netanyahu, the greatest war criminal of the century, which seriously threatens the sovereignty of other Islamic countries in West Asia.