Diplomats from Iran, Russia, and China met in New York to coordinate their positions on the recent Israeli and US military campaigns and UN Security Council Resolution 2231 -- the basis that can bring back sanctions lifted under the 2015 nuclear deal, Iranian media reported.
UN Security Council Resolution 2231, adopted on July 20, 2015, endorses the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), the nuclear agreement between Iran and the P5+1 countries. The US unilaterally withdrew the accord in 2018.
The resolution includes provisions for monitoring Iran's compliance and sets a timeline for the eventual end of UN sanctions, provided Iran upholds its commitments.
“We held a joint meeting with the ambassadors and permanent representatives of China and Russia to review developments and adopt shared positions,” said Kazem Gharibabadi, Iran’s deputy foreign minister for legal and international affairs.
“We always coordinate our positions on key international issues, especially those concerning Iran.”
The meeting took place at Iran’s permanent mission to the United Nations on the sidelines of Gharibabadi’s trip to attend Security Council sessions.
A high-level meeting with Russian and Chinese officials was also held in Tehran on Tuesday, as reported by IRNA state news agency. This was part of a diplomatic effort to shield the country from the threat of reimposed UN sanctions under the 2015 nuclear deal’s snapback mechanism.
Gharibabadi also warned Wednesday that if European powers trigger the snapback mechanism, “leaving the NPT remains an option.”
Tehran has also agreed to host a technical team from the International Atomic Energy Agency in the coming weeks to discuss what Gharibabadi called a “new model for cooperation.”
“The delegation will come to discuss this framework,” he said. “They will not be inspecting nuclear sites.”
Late in June, Iran’s parliament voted to suspend cooperation with the IAEA after the ceasefire with Israel, demanding security guarantees.
Red lines for talks with Washington
The Iranian diplomat said talks could resume if Washington builds trust, pledges not to use negotiations as a pretext for military action, and recognizes Iran’s rights under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.
"To enter negotiations with the American side, several principles are essential: building Iran’s trust — as Iran has absolutely no trust in the United States; ensuring that talks are not used as a platform for hidden agendas such as military action, even though Iran will remain fully prepared; and respecting and recognizing Iran’s rights under the Non-Proliferation Treaty, including enrichment in accordance with its desired needs," he wrote in a post on X Thursday.
Gharibabadi will lead the Iranian delegation for talks with European powers in Istanbul on Friday - in what appears to be a last-ditch effort to salvage a deal and avert a return of United Nations sanctions against Iran.
Washington confirmed on Tuesday that it is coordinating closely with the E3 (Britain, France and Germany) ahead of the Istanbul talks, while remaining "ready to talk directly" to Tehran.
