Iran is actively pursuing diplomatic discussions with Russia, China, and European countries in an effort to prevent the reimposition of United Nations snapback sanctions as the deadline for a new nuclear deal approaches. Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei emphasized the importance of maintaining good relations with these nations to avoid the activation of the snapback mechanism.
The upcoming talks with Russia and China come amid growing concerns about the potential enforcement of sanctions if Iran fails to reach a nuclear agreement by the end of August. Both Russia and China, as signatories to the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), are critical players in this situation. However, since the United States withdrew from the JCPOA under the first Trump administration, the agreement has not prevented Iran from advancing its nuclear program.
The snapback mechanism, originally part of the JCPOA, allows any signatory to recall sanctions on Iran, which would be enforced by all 15 members of the U.N. Security Council. This tool, once a key means of pressure against Iran’s nuclear ambitions, remains relevant despite the U.S. withdrawal from the agreement.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio has continued to push European allies to leverage this tool to pressure Iran into halting its nuclear development. However, the window for securing a new deal is narrowing, with the deadline for the snapback sanctions’ enforcement expiring on October 18.
Analysts caution that intensified sanctions on Iran could lead to further security threats to the West, as the country might consider leaving international nuclear agreements like the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT). These developments highlight the high stakes and precarious nature of Iran’s diplomatic efforts to avoid sanctions and secure a new nuclear deal.