TEHRAN — The Iranian government delivered a clear and forceful warning to the European parties to the 2015 nuclear deal, stating that any attempt to activate the JCPOA’s snapback mechanism would provoke a “proportional response” and fundamentally damage remaining diplomatic ties.
Speaking during a televised press conference in Tehran, Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei denounced the possible reimposition of United Nations sanctions under the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) as “legally baseless and politically motivated,” accusing the UK, France, and Germany (EU3) of exploiting international legal instruments to pressure Iran.
“The snapback threat is an act of political blackmail, not diplomacy,” Baqaei said, asserting that “Iran will respond appropriately and proportionately” if the measure is activated.
Iran accuses EU3 of violating JCPOA and weaponizing sanctions
According to a report by Reuters, Baqaei made clear that Iran still considers itself a participant in the JCPOA, but had been forced to scale back commitments due to what it described as the West’s repeated violations of the deal’s terms. Tehran maintains that the EU3 has failed to uphold its promises of sanctions relief and economic cooperation, especially after the unilateral withdrawal by the United States in 2018.
The warning follows escalating tensions in the region, particularly after a series of Israeli and US-backed airstrikes targeted Iranian nuclear facilities in June, prompting Iran to suspend live access for International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) inspectors and initiate new advanced uranium enrichment procedures.
On Saturday, Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi added to the warning, stating that if the EU3 proceeds with the snapback clause, it will lead to the “complete end of European involvement” in nuclear negotiations. Araqchi emphasized that such a move would “do irreparable harm to Europe’s diplomatic standing in the region.”
Tehran suspends IAEA access after Israeli and US-backed attacks
Under UN Security Council Resolution 2231, any JCPOA participant can claim Iran’s non-compliance and reinstate pre-2015 UN sanctions. However, Iran and its allies argue this clause has lost validity since the US exited the deal and reimposed its own sanctions in 2018. Iran’s legal experts contend that the EU3, by failing to deliver on their JCPOA obligations, have forfeited any right to invoke the mechanism.
In an analysis published by Al Jazeera, legal observers noted that Iran is now managing all IAEA inspection coordination through its Supreme National Security Council, significantly reducing transparency and increasing geopolitical risk.
Araqchi warns EU3 their role in diplomacy is ending
The European powers, meanwhile, have hinted at invoking snapback as Iran moves closer to weapons-grade enrichment. According to Reuters, the EU3 are weighing their options ahead of a crucial October 18, 2025, deadline, after which the snapback mechanism becomes invalid unless formally triggered.
Diplomatic sources confirmed to Reuters that internal divisions remain, particularly in Germany, where officials have denied media reports suggesting Berlin was preparing to file snapback documentation. France, on the other hand, has taken a more assertive stance, with its Foreign Minister in April warning that Europe would not hesitate to act if Iran continued its nuclear escalation.
Snapback mechanism under UN Resolution 2231 faces legal challenge
Iran’s position has also drawn support from Russia and China, both signatories to the original nuclear deal. Moscow’s envoy to the United Nations, Vassily Nebenzia, warned in June that reactivating snapback “would be an abuse of international consensus,” while Beijing described it as a step that would “undermine the trust in multilateral agreements.”
China’s representative to the IAEA stated that Tehran has shown “more cooperation than its Western counterparts admit,” and that the international community should pressure the EU3 to uphold their original commitments rather than resort to punitive measures.
The JCPOA, signed in 2015 by Iran, the five permanent members of the UN Security Council, and Germany, was meant to ensure that Iran’s nuclear program remained exclusively peaceful in exchange for sanctions relief. Since the US withdrawal under the Trump administration, the deal has unraveled, with Iran steadily increasing its enrichment capacity and curtailing inspections.
France pushes for snapback while Germany hesitates
As European pressure mounts and Iran hardens its nuclear posture, the fragile remnants of the JCPOA face their most serious threat since the United States’ unilateral withdrawal in 2018. The divergent positions within the EU3, France’s aggressive snapback posture contrasted with Germany’s hesitance, underscore deep strategic fractures in the West’s approach. Meanwhile, Iran continues to assert its legal right to peaceful enrichment, insists that its program remains within the framework of the Non-Proliferation Treaty, and accuses its Western interlocutors of bad-faith diplomacy driven by political expediency rather than compliance.
With IAEA inspections restricted, enrichment at 60 percent ongoing, and the Fordow facility outfitting new IR-6 centrifuges, the situation appears increasingly volatile. Tehran’s repeated warnings that it will not tolerate unilateral enforcement under the guise of multilateralism signal a growing unwillingness to negotiate under pressure. As the October 18 deadline approaches, the final window to invoke the snapback mechanism, the world is once again staring down the prospect of a collapsed nuclear deal and a new phase of geopolitical confrontation.
