Iran‘s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei has warned European powers that reimposing United Nations sanctions on the country will have consequences, as senior officials met to discuss the renewal of nuclear inspections in Iran.
The talks between Iranian and European diplomats came as the European grouping threatened to reinstate sanctions at the UN Security Council by October, when the nuclear deal between Tehran and major powers expires.
According to Baghaei, Iran told European officials during a meeting in Geneva that they do not have the right to trigger the “snapback mechanism,” which would lead to the reimposition of sanctions.
“We told them that they do not have the right to trigger the mechanism, but both sides would continue nuclear talks in the coming days,” Baghaei said.
The Iranian government remains committed to diplomacy and a mutually beneficial solution, Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi said after meeting with the European officials.
The European Union, which serves as coordinator of the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), was also attending the talks.
The meeting marked the second round of talks between Iranian and European diplomats since Israel struck Iran in a 12-day war in mid-June.
The war derailed Tehran’s nuclear negotiations with the United States and prompted Iran to suspend cooperation with the UN’s nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
Under the terms of the JCPOA, Iran committed to regular inspections of its nuclear energy program in return for relief on some Western sanctions.
However, the deal was torpedoed in 2018 when Donald Trump, during his first term as president, unilaterally withdrew the US and slapped crippling sanctions on Iran.
The European grouping has threatened to trigger the accord’s “snapback mechanism” by the end of August in response to Iran’s retaliatory move to halt inspections.
The window for activating the mechanism closes in October, after which the UN sanctions would be permanently removed. Tehran has warned of a “harsh response” if sanctions are reinstated.
Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei said during a weekly news conference that Tehran’s focus was “on preventing actions or incidents that may be costly for the country.” He added that Tehran was “negotiating with all our might” in advance of the planned talks.
Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi recently said Tehran was working with its allies China and Russia – who are also parties to the JCPOA – to prevent the reimposition of sanctions.
The IAEA says Iran is the only non-nuclear-armed country currently enriching uranium to 60 percent – far beyond the 3.67 percent cap set by the 2015 accord. Ninety percent enrichment is required for a nuclear weapon.
Iran has repeatedly denied it is seeking a nuclear weapon, insisting its program is solely for civilian purposes such as energy production.
The JCPOA allowed Iran to enrich its own uranium but limited it to the 3.7 percent enrichment levels required for a nuclear reactor to generate electricity.
At Israel’s behest, Trump abandoned the agreement in 2018, and Iran walked away from it a year later. As the situation continues to unfold, it remains to be seen how the European powers will respond to Iran’s warnings and whether a mutually beneficial solution can be found.
Iran’s warning to European powers highlights the delicate nature of nuclear negotiations and the potential consequences of reimposing sanctions.
Diplomats may view this as a strategic move by Iran to deter European countries from triggering the snapback mechanism, which could escalate tensions and undermine diplomatic efforts.
From an economic standpoint, reimposing sanctions on Iran could have significant implications for the global economy, particularly in the energy sector.
European countries may face increased energy costs and reduced access to Iranian oil, potentially impacting their economic stability and growth.
The situation also has implications for regional security in the Middle East. Iran’s warning may be seen as a deterrent to European powers, which could prevent further escalation and promote stability in the region.
However, if sanctions are reimposed, it could lead to increased tensions and potentially destabilize the region.
The dispute highlights the challenges of global governance and the role of international institutions in enforcing agreements.
The snapback mechanism, part of the JCPOA, is designed to ensure compliance, but its implementation is complex and contentious.
This situation may prompt renewed discussions on the effectiveness of international agreements and the need for more robust mechanisms to ensure compliance.