Russia, China slam European nations over Iran snapback' sanctions move

"Russia and China have condemned a decision by Britain, Germany and France to launch a process that could reimpose United Nations sanctions on Iran over its nuclear programme. The three European countries, known as the E3, launched the so-called snapback mechanism on Thursday over accusations that Iran has violated a 2015 deal that aimed to prevent it from developing a nuclear weapons capability in return for the lifting of international sanctions."

"The move opens a 30-day window during which a new UN resolution to continue sanctions relief must be adopted to prevent penalties from being reimposed. We strongly condemn these actions by European countries and call on the international community to reject them, the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on Friday in a statement that blamed the United States and the Europeans for the collapse of the 2015 nuclear deal."

"China said the move by the European countries was not constructive. The Iranian nuclear issue is at a critical juncture. Launching the Security Council's snapback mechanism of sanctions is not constructive and will undermine the process of a political and diplomatic settlement of the Iranian nuclear issue, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun told a regular media briefing on Friday. Iran earlier decried the move, with Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi saying it was unjustified and lacking any legal basis in a call with his European counterparts."

Britain, Germany and France invoked the UN Security Council's snapback mechanism, opening a 30-day window for a new resolution to maintain sanctions relief or face reimposed penalties. The move accuses Iran of violating the 2015 nuclear deal that limited its potential to develop nuclear weapons in exchange for lifted international sanctions. Russia condemned the European action, called on the international community to reject it, and blamed the United States and Europeans for the 2015 deal's collapse. China described the snapback as not constructive and warned it would undermine political and diplomatic settlement efforts. Iran called the step unjustified and lacking legal basis and said it would respond appropriately, while warning the measure would harm cooperation with the UN nuclear watchdog.

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