On Thursday, Russia criticized President Trump’s choice to pull the U.S. out of the 2015 nuclear agreement with Iran, arguing this move would lead to Washington blaming Tehran for violating the treaty.
This response came soon after the UK, France, and Germany (collectively known as the E3) informed the UN Security Council that they had initiated a snapback mechanism to impose significant UN sanctions on Iran due to violations of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).
“The U.S. has abandoned the JCPOA, and this has led to deterioration,” stated Dmitry Poliansky, Russia’s Deputy UN Ambassador. He noted the importance of not losing sight of the root causes that emerged following Trump’s decision in 2018 to exit the agreement over claims of Iranian violations.
Trump has consistently asserted that Iran is flouting the agreement, yet other signatories, including those from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and the JCPOA, mention there’s no proof that Iran began expanding its nuclear program until 2019. A Russian diplomat pointed out, “We all know that Iran’s actions regarding uranium enrichment were in direct response to the U.S. leaving the JCPOA. These measures could easily be reversed.”
Additionally, Russia and China proposed a UNSC resolution on Thursday aimed at extending the timeline of the 2015 nuclear deal with Iran by six months, which may allow sanctions to be targeted at Tehran. However, given Iran’s previous refusal to cooperate amid similar expansions discussed by E3 negotiators in July, it seems doubtful that the U.S., France, or the UK would support moving forward.
The U.S. has encouraged other joiners of the agreement to impose snapback sanctions against Iran since its exit in 2018. Despite much evidence showcasing Iran’s violations, this situation has been complicated by instances of Iran accumulating uranium enrichment levels that far exceed permitted limits.
The Russian diplomat claimed, “This is merely a step in escalating tensions. The Western countries seem less concerned about diplomacy and more focused on threats and enforcement against sovereign nations.”
British officials confirmed that the propositions agreed upon by all JCPOA participants, including Russia and China, were aimed at pursuing a diplomatic resolution with Iran; however, these efforts have persisted for years without much success, exacerbated by Iran’s consistent rejections.
In closing, Polianski remarked on the current state of affairs, saying, “The world finds itself at a crossroads. We can either pursue peace, diplomacy, and mutual goodwill or descend into conflict and militarization.” No immediate response was received from the White House regarding these developments.
