Iran warns of response if UN sanctions are enforced on country

Iran has warned it will respond if the United Nations moves to reimpose sanctions over its nuclear programme, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said on July 14th, according to AL24 News via Reuters.

The statement was prompted by comments issued by a French diplomatic source, who recently told Reuters that European nations may be forced to implement the UN’s “snapback mechanism” if no nuclear agreement is reached that addresses European security concerns.

The “snapback” mechanism—part of the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA)—permits the automatic reinstatement of U.N. sanctions if Iran is found to be in significant breach of the deal. Under the JCPOA, those sanctions were originally lifted in exchange for strict limits on Tehran’s nuclear programme.

Baghaei sharply criticised any attempt to activate the mechanism, calling it illegitimate. “The threat to use the snapback mechanism lacks legal and political basis,” Baghaei said at a press conference. He added that such a move “will be met with an appropriate and proportionate response from the Islamic Republic of Iran,” without providing further details.

He also accused the European parties of failing to fulfil their responsibilities outlined in the deal.

“The European parties, who are constantly trying to use this possibility as a tool, have themselves committed gross and fundamental violations of their obligations under the JCPOA,” Baghaei added.

The JCPOA was originally signed by Iran and six world powers: the United States, Britain, France, Germany, Russia, and China. It includes a clause allowing any party to refer disputes over Iran’s compliance to the UN Security Council, which may activate the snapback mechanism if breaches are left unaddressed.

The U.S. withdrew from the agreement in 2018 under President Donald Trump’s first term, who referred to the deal as “weak.” Now in his second term, Trump has called on Tehran to return to nuclear talks. However, recent escalations in rhetoric between Iran and the U.S. have added pressure to these already fragile negotiations — including a warning from Tehran that “all U.S. bases are within reach” if conflict is brought to Iran. This call also follows a ceasefire that ended a 12-day conflict between Iran and Israel, which further destabilised the region.

When questioned about whether Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi would meet Trump’s Middle East envoy, Steve Witkoff, Baghaei confirmed that neither a date nor location had been determined for renewing nuclear discussions with the U.S.

AL24 News via Reuters, Maghrebi.org