Iran Vows Retaliation as Europe Triggers ‘Snapback Mechanism’; US Applauds Move

ERBIL (Kurdistan24) – Iran’s Foreign Minister on Thursday denounced the decision by France, Germany, and the United Kingdom to trigger a mechanism to reimpose United Nations sanctions as an “unjustified, illegal” move, vowing that Tehran would respond appropriately to protect its national interests.

The sharp rebuke came as the United States formally welcomed the European action, describing it as a necessary step to address Iran's "significant non-performance" of its nuclear commitments, setting the stage for a high-stakes diplomatic confrontation at the UN Security Council.

In a statement reported by the IRGC-affiliated Tasnim News Agency on Thursday evening, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi characterized the European move to initiate the UN Security Council’s “snapback” mechanism as “lacking any legal basis.”

He stressed Tehran’s firm resolve to counter the measure, which aims to restore a swathe of international sanctions that were suspended under the 2015 nuclear accord, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).

“The Islamic Republic of Iran will respond appropriately to this unlawful and unwarranted measure by the three European countries to protect its national rights and interests,” Araghchi stated, according to Tasnim.

He asserted that the snapback process was initiated despite Tehran’s continued commitment to diplomacy and transparency in resolving nuclear-related issues.

“Iran has acted responsibly and in good faith in adhering to diplomacy,” he added, emphasizing that Iran’s stance remains firm in defending its legal rights under international law and the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT).

The three European nations, often referred to as the E3, formally notified Iran by phone on Thursday of their intention to inform the UN Security Council and begin the “dispute resolution” process.

This action starts a 30-day countdown that could culminate in the automatic reimposition of UN sanctions on Tehran. The snapback mechanism, a veto-proof measure designed during the JCPOA negotiations, allows any participant to declare non-compliance by Iran and restore the sanctions without the possibility of a Security Council veto.

The sanctions would include freezing Iranian assets abroad, banning arms sales, and specifically targeting Iran’s ballistic missile program.

Iran has consistently rejected such measures, insisting its nuclear program is exclusively for peaceful purposes and compliant with international obligations.

Washington Welcomes European Leadership

The European decision was swiftly and unequivocally supported by the United States. In a statement released on Thursday, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Washington welcomes the initiation of the process under UN Security Council resolution 2231.

"The United States Welcomes the Initiation of Snapback," the statement's headline declared. "These European allies – the E3 – have laid out a clear case of Iran’s continuing 'significant non-performance' of its nuclear commitments, establishing a strong basis for initiating snapback."

Secretary Rubio noted that the European powers had pursued other avenues before taking this step. "Moreover, the E3 could have initiated snapback at any point since 2019 but chose instead to first pursue intensive outreach and engagement – to provide Iran with a diplomatic offramp from its strategy of nuclear escalation," he stated.

Washington has pledged to work closely with its allies in the coming weeks to ensure the process is completed.

"The United States appreciates the leadership of our E3 allies in this effort," Rubio said.

"Over the coming weeks, we will work with them and other Members of the UN Security Council to successfully complete the snapback of international sanctions and restrictions on Iran, as the President instructed in National Security Presidential Memorandum 2."

Despite the punitive measures, Rubio’s statement maintained that a diplomatic path remains open. "At the same time, the United States remains available for direct engagement with Iran – in furtherance of a peaceful, enduring resolution to the Iran nuclear issue," he affirmed. "Snapback does not contradict our earnest readiness for diplomacy, it only enhances it."

A Backdrop of War, Threats, and Fragile Cooperation

The move by the E3 comes just over two months after a 12-day war between Israel and Iran, in which U.S. forces later joined, targeting multiple Iranian nuclear facilities.

As Kurdistan24 previously reported, both Israel and the U.S. argued the military campaign was necessary to prevent Tehran from advancing its nuclear capabilities. In the immediate aftermath, Iran suspended all cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the UN’s nuclear watchdog.

That suspension created a deep diplomatic crisis, with Iranian officials accusing the IAEA of providing Israel with "political cover" for its military campaign.

Tehran’s accusations stemmed from an IAEA assessment released just one day before the Israeli airstrikes began, which accused Tehran of failing to comply with its nonproliferation obligations.

The tensions have also taken on a personal dimension.

On Wednesday, The Wall Street Journal reported that IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi had been placed under round-the-clock protection by an elite Austrian security unit following a specific threat from Iran.

Iranian officials and state-affiliated media had publicly condemned Grossi, with senior aide Ali Larijani warning, "When the war ends, we are going to deal with Grossi," and the semiofficial Kayhan newspaper labeling him an "Israeli spy" who should be "detained and executed." At the time, Secretary Rubio called the alleged threats "unacceptable and should be condemned."

In a recent and fragile step toward de-escalation, IAEA inspectors returned to Iran for the first time since the war. As reported by Kurdistan24 on Wednesday, an inspection team arrived at the Bushehr nuclear facility.

However, IAEA chief Grossi warned that such access could not be selective. "There is no such thing as a la carte inspection work," he stated, emphasizing that monitoring must be allowed across all nuclear sites.

This limited cooperation appears to have been insufficient to forestall the European action.

In a joint statement on Thursday, the foreign ministers of Britain, Germany, and France said that Iran's non-compliance with the 2015 deal was "clear and deliberate," adding that Iran has "no civilian justification" for its stockpile of highly enriched uranium.

According to previous IAEA reports, Tehran has accumulated about 882 pounds of this material, well beyond what is needed for civilian energy production.

The Path Forward: Diplomacy or Deepening Crisis?

The decision to trigger snapback follows the collapse of indirect talks between Iran and the United States aimed at reviving a framework for nuclear limits.

Since the U.S. unilaterally withdrew from the JCPOA in 2018 under President Donald Trump during his first term in office as US President, Tehran has progressively reduced its voluntary cooperation, citing the failure of European signatories to shield Iran from crippling U.S. sanctions.

Now, with sanctions set to be reimposed, Iran has issued a stark warning that its remaining cooperation with the UN watchdog is on the line.

According to Tasnim, Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi directly linked the snapback to the IAEA's future role in the country.

"If they opt for snapback, it makes no sense for Iran to continue working with them," Gharibabadi warned, signaling that the last vestiges of international oversight could be terminated.

While Foreign Minister Araghchi expressed a faint hope that the E3 would "properly correct their wrong move in the coming days," the positions of all parties appear to be hardening.

As the 30-day clock at the UN Security Council begins to tick, the international community watches to see if this diplomatic gambit will force a breakthrough or push the region toward a more profound and unpredictable confrontation.

Acting on behalf of Israel and the U.S., the E3 have decided to maliciously pursue pressure on the Iranian people. This folly—which Iran has sternly warned against—is immoral, unjustified, and unlawful.

Iran has cautioned that having been left out by the U.S. on all global…

— Seyed Abbas Araghchi (@araghchi) August 29, 2025