ISTANBUL 

Iran condemned on Thursday a decision by France, Germany, and the UK to trigger the so-called “snapback” mechanism to reimpose UN sanctions on Tehran over its nuclear program.

“The attempt by the E3 to invoke snapback is inconsistent with UN Security Council Resolution 2231 and is legally void,” the Foreign Ministry said in a statement cited by the state-run Press TV.

The ministry said the European powers “have no legal or moral right” to use the mechanism because they “violated their obligations” under the 2015 nuclear deal.

Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi called the European move “unjustified, illegal, and lacking any legal basis,” saying Tehran will “respond appropriately” to what he views as an unlawful attempt to undermine its rights under the 2015 nuclear deal.

Araghchi urged the E3 to “correct their mistake” and warned that the move would harm Iran’s cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and further erode the UN Security Council’s credibility.

The E3 on Thursday triggered the mechanism for reinstating UN sanctions in their dispute with Iran over its nuclear program.

“As a result of Iran’s actions, and in accordance with paragraph 11 of United Nations Security Council Resolution 2231 (2015), France, Germany and the United Kingdom have today decided to notify the Security Council that we believe Iran is in significant non-performance of its commitments under the JCPoA (Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action), thereby engaging the 'snapback' mechanism,” the three countries said in a joint statement.

“This notification initiates the snapback process defined in Resolution 2231. It opens a 30-day period before the possible reestablishment of previously terminated United Nations Security Council resolutions,” it added.

The Iranian nuclear agreement was intended to prevent Tehran from building a nuclear bomb. The document specifically regulates the independent verification of Iran's nuclear program and sets limits on the quantity and enrichment of uranium.

Tensions escalated in June when Israel launched a surprise attack on Tehran on June 13, targeting military, nuclear, and civilian sites as well as senior commanders and nuclear scientists. Iran retaliated with missile and drone strikes, while the US bombed three Iranian nuclear facilities. The 12-day conflict ended under a US-brokered ceasefire on June 24.