Iran’s ambassador to the United Nations, Amir-Saeid Iravani, reiterated that Tehran would not enter talks “under threats or coercion,” framing a hard line as European powers triggered a 30-day UN process to reimpose sanctions over Iran’s nuclear program. The E3—Britain, France and Germany—urged Iran to restore inspector access, address enriched-uranium stockpiles and engage directly with Washington in exchange for delaying snapback, a proposal Iran dismissed as unrealistic. Moscow and Beijing, meanwhile, have circulated ideas for a short technical extension of Resolution 2231 to buy time for diplomacy.

Iran-Israel Escalation Shapes The Diplomatic Backdrop

June’s exchanges between Israel and Iran—Israeli and US strikes on Iranian nuclear and missile sites followed by Iranian missile salvos—left casualties and significant damage, intensifying the security stakes around the nuclear file. Israeli officials told the UN they would not stop until Iran’s “nuclear threat is dismantled,” while Tehran warned it would defend itself and urged Council action. Bloomberg and Reuters reporting detail hundreds of Iranian missiles fired and note fatalities and economic damage from those strikes.

The IAEA has separately reported that Iran continues to enrich up to 60% purity and now possesses material that—if further refined—could yield multiple weapons, findings that have sharpened European concerns and helped set the stage for the current snapback push.

Snapback Showdown And Iran’s Strategic Alignments

At the UN, the E3 argue the sanctions process is warranted but offered to pause it for up to six months if Tehran accepts specific steps; Iran’s envoy rejected preconditions and endorsed more time for diplomacy. Russia publicly condemned the European move and, alongside China, has advocated a short extension to 2231 to keep talks alive.

European measures have already prompted travel warnings, with Germany advising its nationals to leave Iran amid fears of retaliation. Tehran, for its part, insists it can sustain oil exports despite renewed curbs, though recent sanctions and market data show tighter conditions and ebbing Chinese intake.