Iran thanks Pakistan for opposing E3’s snapback move at UN Security Council

Iran has thanked Pakistan for its “responsible stance” at the United Nations Security Council in opposing the European countries’ abuse of a dispute mechanism outlined in the 2015 nuclear deal to re-impose sanctions against the Islamic Republic. 

Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi made the remarks during a phone call with his Pakistani counterpart Mohammad Ishaq Dar following the conclusion of the snapback process initiated by the three European countries — collectively known as the E3 — aimed at restoring UN sanctions against Iran.

The snapback mechanism is part of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) and allows parties to the deal to seek the reinstatement of previously lifted sanctions. Tehran rejects the European move, calling it illegitimate due to the United States’ 2018 unilateral withdrawal from the JCPOA and denouncing the European countries for aligning with unlawful US sanctions instead of fulfilling their JCPOA obligations.

Araghchi expressed his appreciation to Pakistan for opposing the European trio’s abuse of the snapback to restore previously terminated Security Council resolutions against Iran and the associated sanctions.

He also emphasized that UNSC Resolution 2231, which endorsed the JCPOA, must expire on its scheduled date on October 18 in accordance with the document’s provisions and the text of the nuclear accord.

On August 28, the E3 invoked the snapback mechanism, a 30-day process to restore all anti-Iran sanctions.

An 11th-hour effort by Russia and China to extend the JCPOA and Resolution 2231 for six months in an attempt to allow time for diplomacy failed to win enough votes at the Security Council on September 26. Pakistan and Algeria joined Russia and China in supporting the draft resolution, but nine countries voted no and two abstained.

Speaking at the voting session, Director General for United Nations Affairs at Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs Umer Siddique expressed support for the JCPOA, saying that coercive measures would not resolve outstanding issues but complicate them further and that sanctions would only hurt ordinary Iranians.

"Buying more time would be a critically important prerequisite to move forward,” he added. To that end, "the only logical step would be a technical extension of Resolution 2231.”

Additionally in their call, the top Iranian and Pakistani diplomats underscored the importance of cooperation between the two countries in all areas of mutual interest, and called for strengthening coordination both bilaterally and within international organizations in order to safeguard regional and global peace and stability.

They further considered Palestine the foremost issue of the Muslim world, urging immediate and effective action by Islamic countries to put an end to the genocide of Palestinians and hold its perpetrators accountable and bring them to justice.

Since October 7, 2023, Israel has been waging a genocidal war on the Gaza Strip, killing 66,225 Palestinians, mostly women and children, and injuring 168,938 others.

The criminal regime has also prevented the entry of humanitarian aid to the besieged territory, causing mass starvation there.

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