Russia and China agree with Tehran that UN sanctions on Iran have not been automatically reimposed and that the Security Council resolution endorsing the 2015 nuclear deal has now expired on October 18, Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said on Saturday.
“The view of the Islamic Republic of Iran and countries such as Russia and China, which are permanent members of the Security Council, is that contrary to the position of the United States and some European countries, the snapback mechanism has not been triggered and resolution 2231 has formally expired,” Araghchi said in remarks published by ISNA.
“With the resolution’s expiration, all restrictions imposed by the Security Council on the Islamic Republic of Iran have been completely lifted and the issue of Iran is no longer on the council’s agenda.”
The position, Araghchi said, had gained broad support. “More than 120 countries adopted this view in the final document of the Non-Aligned Movement foreign ministers’ meeting in Uganda,” he said.
“The Russian Federation, as a permanent member and the current president of the Security Council, has also issued an official statement rejecting the return to previous resolutions.”
Strategic partnership with Moscow
The relationship between Tehran and Moscow strengthened through the signing of a 20-year cooperation agreement, the foreign minister added.
“The comprehensive partnership between Iran and Russia provides a firm basis for expanding cooperation in all fields and safeguarding the common interests of the two countries,” Araghchi said.
“This relationship is rooted in mutual trust, shared interests and a long-term strategic outlook.”
He also confirmed that Iran, Russia and China had exchanged joint communications with the UN Security Council and the secretary-general over recent months expressing a common stance on the expiration of the resolution and rejection of the European move to revive sanctions.
Russian UN envoy Mikhail Ulyanov wrote on X on Saturday that under paragraph 8 of resolution 2231, “the UN Security Council has concluded today the consideration of the Iranian nuclear issue and the item ‘Non-proliferation’ is removed from the list of matters of which the Council is seized.”
Response to European action
In a letter to the UN secretary-general and the council president, Araghchi said the termination of the resolution was “in full accordance with its explicit provisions.”
He wrote that Iran had “implemented the JCPOA in good faith and with full precision,” while accusing the United States of “grossly violating international law” by withdrawing from the accord in 2018.
The European powers’ decision in August to trigger the snapback mechanism, he said, had “no legal, procedural or political basis,” adding that any comment to reinstate expired resolutions was “null and void.”
Iran and its partners would “focus on strengthening their collective stance at the Security Council and maintaining national unity to advance the country’s higher interests,” Araghchi concluded.
