The foreign ministers of China, Iran, and Russia have issued a joint statement rejecting an attempt by France, Germany, and the United Kingdom (E3) to invoke the so-called “snapback” mechanism under United Nations Security Council Resolution 2231, which endorses the 2015 Iran nuclear deal (JCPOA).
The three countries stressed that the JCPOA remains “a unique achievement of multilateral diplomacy and a role model to resolve disputes through dialogue and engagement,” adding that its full implementation could contribute positively to international peace and security.
According to the joint letter, the move by the E3 to trigger the snapback procedure—which would reinstate UN sanctions against Iran—is “legally and procedurally flawed” and “contravenes the resolution.” The statement argued that the E3 was misusing the Security Council’s authority while ignoring the original breach of the agreement: the U.S. withdrawal from the JCPOA in 2018.
“Reciprocal steps taken by Iran cannot serve as a basis for triggering the ‘snapback’ mechanism,” the ministers wrote, noting that Iran reduced its commitments only after Washington reimposed sanctions and the E3 failed to uphold their obligations under the deal.
China, Iran, and Russia also accused the European powers of aligning with U.S. unilateral sanctions and introducing their own restrictive measures in violation of Resolution 2231. They warned that reimposing UN sanctions on Iran would “undo years of diplomatic efforts, undermine the credibility of multilateral agreements, and set a dangerous precedent for selective enforcement of international obligations.”
The letter urged the Security Council to reject the E3’s notification and treat it as “null and void,” emphasizing that any steps taken in disregard of Resolution 2231 “cannot result in lawful international obligations for UN Member States.”
Calling on Paris, Berlin, and London to “change their destructive course,” the three ministers reiterated that dialogue and political solutions based on mutual respect remain the only path forward. They also appealed to all countries to help create conditions for renewed diplomacy rather than escalation.
The joint communication has been requested to be circulated as an official document of both the UN General Assembly and the Security Council.
