New york: The five permanent members of the UN Security Council clashed Thursday during a high-stakes session about the legal validity of international sanctions against Iran and the reimposition of UN sanctions under the 2015 nuclear accord's "snapback" provision.
According to Anadolu Agency, the snapback clause, established under the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), was designed to automatically reinstate UN Chapter VII sanctions if Iran breached the deal, intentionally bypassing the veto power of permanent council members. The Russian representative demanded a procedural vote to block a scheduled briefing on the 1737 Sanctions Committee, arguing that UN Resolution 2231, which endorsed the nuclear deal, expired Oct. 18, 2025. Moscow insisted that the non-proliferation agenda item was struck off the council's list of active matters that day.
The Chinese representative supported Russia's stance, asserting that the council presidency lacks the mandate to draft or deliver a 90-day report. Beijing expressed "grave concern" and "strong opposition" to unilateral actions that allegedly deepen institutional division and impede a political settlement.
Western delegations firmly rejected the challenge, arguing that the sanctions regime had been legally revived following Iranian breaches. The British representative, supported by France and Germany, stated that the snapback mechanism was initiated due to Iran's "significant non-performance" under the 2015 nuclear pact. The French representative affirmed the restoration of council resolutions and the committee's mandate to report every 90 days.
The US representative accused Russia and China of attempting to undermine council decisions to protect Tehran, noting that the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) confirmed Iran's non-compliance with its Comprehensive Safeguards Agreement. The council voted 11-2 in favor of adopting the provisional agenda, defeating the Russian and Chinese bid to halt the meeting.
Following the vote, Moscow denounced the briefing as an illegitimate exercise and accused Washington and Israel of reckless actions that risked regional catastrophe. Beijing argued that the United States' unilateral withdrawal from the JCPOA and its maximum pressure policy against Iran were the primary causes of the current situation.
The British envoy criticized Tehran for reportedly stockpiling uranium enriched to 60% without "any credible civilian justification" and accused Iran of barring UN inspectors from nuclear facilities. The US representative rejected safety arguments raised by Tehran for barring inspectors, highlighting that UN personnel continue to operate in war-torn regions like Ukraine.
France emphasized Tehran's uranium stockpile, warning it could potentially be sufficient for about 10 explosive nuclear devices.