Tehran: Iran's Ambassador to Germany, Majid Neeli, has criticized the recent initiative by the United States and the European trio of Germany, France, and Britain to escalate Iran's nuclear issue to the UN Security Council, labeling it as 'lawlessness.' This statement comes in light of a similar action taken by the European countries last year.

According to Islamic Republic News Agency, the ambassador expressed these views on Monday, coinciding with the start of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Board of Governors' quarterly meeting in Vienna, Austria. The discussions prominently feature Iran's nuclear program, with the US and the E3 advocating for a resolution that could lead to Iran's referral to the United Nations Security Council.

Last year, the E3 initiated the snapback mechanism under the 2015 Iran nuclear deal, despite the agreement's official expiration in October 2025. This action led to the Iran issue being referred to the Security Council and the reimplementation of international sanctions.

The Iranian ambassador pointed out on X that in September 2025, the E3 illegally triggered the snapback mechanism, alleging that UN sanctions against Iran had been reinstated. He questioned the rationale behind referring the issue back to the Security Council, asking if the involved parties understand their actions.

Iran's Permanent Mission to the United Nations in Vienna also responded to the draft resolution by the US-E3, suggesting that it highlights the failure of the snapback mechanism.