Friday Vote on Snapback; Behind Macron’s Sanctions Announcement

Diplomats told the European news agency AFP that the UN Security Council will hold a vote on Friday concerning the activation of the snapback mechanism.

According to Rokna, diplomatic sources confirmed that the UN Security Council will vote on Friday regarding the activation of the snapback mechanism. AFP reported the news citing informed sources.

Axios also reported that French President Emmanuel Macron has stated that the return of sanctions on Iran is certain.

If activated, the snapback mechanism will automatically reinstate all sanctions previously lifted under the 2015 nuclear agreement. Iran maintains that it has never fully benefited from the JCPOA and that the U.S. withdrawal from the agreement in 2018 undermines the legitimacy of such actions.

Previously, the British news agency Reuters reported, citing diplomatic sources, that only “limited progress” had been achieved in negotiations between Iran and European powers.

Reuters reported that, according to two European diplomats and one Iranian diplomat, the talks held on Wednesday between Iran, France, Germany, and the United Kingdom, with the participation of the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs, yielded no significant results ahead of the activation of the snapback mechanism.

The Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that in a recent call between Iran’s Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi and his European counterparts, Araghchi emphasized Iran’s principled stance on the importance of maintaining dialogue and diplomacy to prevent escalation. He noted that the actions of the three European countries to reinstate previously lifted UN sanctions are without legal or rational justification.

Araghchi further stressed that the Islamic Republic of Iran has engaged responsibly with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and has developed a clear protocol outlining how Iran will fulfill its safeguard obligations under the new circumstances. He called on all parties to recognize the significance and value of this initiative. The responsibility now lies with the opposing parties to seize this opportunity to continue diplomatic engagement and avert an avoidable crisis, demonstrating their seriousness and commitment to diplomacy.

He concluded that Iran is ready to pursue a fair and balanced solution that ensures mutual benefits. Achieving this goal requires a responsible and independent approach from the three European countries, free from the influence of actors who do not value diplomacy, principles, or the rules of international law.