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Iran vows ‘proportionate response’ if Europe triggers ‘snapback’ of UN sanctions

Iran says US, Israeli attacks on its nuclear facilities undermined legal and political basis of snapback mechanism

Mohammad Sıo  | 14.07.2025 - Update : 15.07.2025
Iran vows ‘proportionate response’ if Europe triggers ‘snapback’ of UN sanctions Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei

ISTANBUL

Iran on Monday vowed a “proportionate and appropriate response” if European signatories of the 2015 nuclear deal reinstated UN sanctions under the so-called snapback mechanism.

At a press conference in Tehran, Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei criticized recent threats by Britain, France, and Germany to activate the “snapback” mechanism, which could reimpose sanctions on Iran under UN Security Council Resolution 2231.

Baqaei described the European position as “a political act and in opposition to the Islamic Republic.”

“Naturally, it will be met with a proportionate and appropriate response,” he said in his comments carried by the state news agency IRNA.

The snapback mechanism allows the reintroduction of sanctions lifted under the 2015 nuclear deal if Tehran violates its nuclear commitments.

But Baqaei said that last month’s attacks by the US and Israel on Iran’s nuclear facilities undermined the legal and political basis of the mechanism.

“Resorting to this mechanism lacks any legal, political, or moral justification,” he said. “European parties are constantly trying to use it as a tool in violation of their fundamental obligations.”

The spokesman reiterated Iran’s position that it remained committed to the nuclear deal despite what he called “gross violations” by the US and Europe. He noted that Iran “was forced to gradually reduce its commitments, a right that was foreseen in the text of the deal, in response to the gross violations by the United States and European parties.”

The 2015 agreement was signed by Iran and the five permanent members of the UN Security Council – China, France, Russia, the UK, and the US – plus Germany. It limited Iran’s stockpile of enriched uranium to 202.8 kilograms at low enrichment levels.

The US unilaterally withdrew from the deal on May 8, 2018, during President Donald Trump’s first term, and reimposed sweeping sanctions on Tehran.

On June 13, Israel, with US support, launched a 12-day offensive on Iran, targeting military, nuclear, and civilian sites, as well as senior military commanders and nuclear scientists.

Iran retaliated with missile and drone strikes on Israeli military and intelligence facilities. A US-brokered ceasefire between Tehran and Tel Aviv was announced on June 24.

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