Iran Threatens Response if UN Sanctions Are Reimposed Over Nuclear Programme
Iran warned it would respond to any reimposition of UN sanctions under the nuclear deal’s "snapback mechanism."
Iran’s foreign ministry has warned it will retaliate if United Nations sanctions are reimposed on Tehran over its nuclear activities. The threat comes as European countries weigh triggering the nuclear deal’s "snapback mechanism," which would restore sanctions lifted under the 2015 agreement.
Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei said any such move lacks legal and political justification and would be met with a “proportionate” response. He accused European signatories of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) of failing to uphold their commitments under the deal.
The snapback provision allows for sanctions to be reinstated if a signatory accuses Iran of significant non-compliance. A French diplomatic source recently indicated Europe might act if no agreement safeguarding its security is reached.
Western governments accuse Tehran of advancing towards nuclear weapons capability, a charge Iran denies. The U.S. exited the JCPOA in 2018 under Donald Trump but now urges Iran to return to talks after a ceasefire ended recent hostilities with Israel.
No date has been set for resuming U.S.-Iran nuclear negotiations, though speculation persists about meetings between Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi and Trump’s Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff.