China and Russia bashed Germany, France, and the United Kingdom over their implementation of the “snapback” mechanism to implement sanctions against Iran.
On Thursday, the European trio implemented a process to implement sanctions against Iran over its nuclear program if it doesn’t comply with demands in a 30-day window. Moscow and Beijing separately denounced the move, portraying it as misguided and counterproductive.
“We strongly urge them to reconsider and review their erroneous decisions before they lead to irreparable consequences and further tragedy,” Russia’s foreign ministry said in a statement, blaming the Europeans and the U.S. for the failure of the 2015 nuclear deal.
Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesman Guo Jiakun gave a similar statement on Friday.
“The Iranian nuclear issue is at a critical juncture. Launching the Security Council’s snapback mechanism of sanctions is not constructive and will undermine the process of a political and diplomatic settlement of the Iranian nuclear issue,” he said.
The united front supporting the Iranians reflects the growing diplomatic ties between Moscow and Beijing, and their mutual increasing support of Tehran. Just days prior, Russian President Vladimir Putin and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian expressed a mutual intention to strengthen bilateral cooperation, according to Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova.
Germany, France, and the U.K., known as the E3, triggered the “snapback” mechanism on Thursday, accusing Iran of violating its commitments under the 2015 nuclear deal.
“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, thereby engaging the ‘snapback’ mechanism,” they said in a statement.
The decision opens a 30-day period before the sanctions are activated, allowing Iran to fall in line with Western demands or plead its case.
EUROPEAN POWERS HIT IRAN WITH PRE-2015 SANCTIONS AS PRESSURE FOR NUCLEAR NEGOTIATIONS
The E3 leaders said they would “continue to engage with Iran on our extension offer, or on any serious diplomatic efforts to restore Iran’s compliance with its commitments.”
Meanwhile, the U.S. has expressed openness to new negotiations with Tehran to establish a framework for a new nuclear deal. This comes two months after Operation Midnight Hammer, when the U.S. bombed Iran’s nuclear infrastructure.