New york: Russia’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Vasily Nebenzia, has formally contested the recent reimposition of sanctions against Iran, asserting that the move lacks legal justification. In a detailed letter addressed to both the UN Secretary-General and the Security Council’s president, Nebenzia emphasized that the sanctions, reinstated through the snapback mechanism, have no lawful basis.
According to Islamic Republic News Agency, the letter, dated September 29, follows a UN Security Council vote to reimpose sanctions against Iran, which had been previously terminated under the 2015 nuclear deal between Iran and several world powers, including Britain, France, and Germany, collectively known as the E3. The E3 initiated the process to restore these sanctions in late August by notifying the UN Security Council of their intention to trigger the snapback mechanism.
Nebenzia’s letter elaborates on why the reinstatement of sanctions is considered illicit. It refers to a notification from the UN’s Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs regarding the reapplication of several Security Council resolutions concerning Iran. The letter also highlights the Security Council’s votes on resolutions submitted by South Korea, China, and Russia, aimed at extending the termination regime of UN sanctions against Iran.
The letter criticizes the United States, the United Kingdom, and France for opposing these drafts, thereby rejecting diplomatic efforts to resolve the Iranian nuclear issue. It argues that the E3’s claims of triggering the snapback mechanism do not hold up under scrutiny, as they allegedly failed to follow the dispute resolution procedures outlined in the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), which is integral to resolution 2231.
Additionally, Russia contends that the numerous violations committed by the E3 invalidate their right to activate the snapback mechanism. The letter insists that the draft resolution put to vote on September 19 did not meet the requirements of resolution 2231, thus the process to restore UN sanctions against Iran cannot be considered triggered.
The letter further accuses Western states of attempting to legitimize their violations of resolution 2231 and of coercing the international community into supporting their confrontational policy. As resolution 2231 is set to expire on October 18, 2025, Russia argues that any restrictions related to Iran’s nuclear program will become irrelevant after this date.
Nebenzia calls on the UN Secretariat to retract its notification of re-establishing the sanctions list and to cancel the related website. He warns that these actions could undermine the authority of the UN Security Council and urges adherence to the Security Council’s consensual decisions.
In conclusion, Russia’s letter requests that this communication be circulated as an official document of the Security Council, asserting its highest consideration for the body and its processes.