In a joint diplomatic move, the ambassadors and permanent representatives of Iran, Russia, and China to the Vienna-based UN offices have addressed a letter to IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi, outlining their unified stance against the recent actions of the UK, France, and Germany regarding UN Security Council Resolution 2231.
The three nations asserted that the European powers’ attempt to trigger the “snapback” mechanism lacks legal and procedural validity, emphasizing that the resolution’s provisions expired on October 18, 2025, and that the IAEA’s mandate for related reporting has therefore concluded.
What follows is the text of their letter, written on October 24:
H.E. Rafael Mariano Grossi, Director General of the IAEA
Excellency,
We, Ambassadors and Permanent Representatives of the People's Republic of China, the Islamic Republic of Iran, and the Russian Federation, have the honor to refer to the joint letter of our Foreign Ministers dated 28 August 2025 (INFCIRC1314-A/79/1004-S/2025/546), in which they set out common position regarding the recent actions by the United Kingdom, France, and Germany (E3) in relation to United Nations Security Council Resolution 2231 (2015).
We reaffirm that the invocation of the so-called "snapback" by the E3 is, by its very nature, legally and procedurally flawed. The E3, having themselves violated their commitments under both the JCPOA and United Nations Security Council Resolution 2231, and having failed to exhaust the procedures established under the Dispute Resolution Mechanism (DRM), lack the requisite standing to invoke its provisions.
Therefore, we affirm that in accordance with UNSCR 2231, all its provisions have been terminated on 18 October 2025. In light of this termination, the mandate for the IAEA Director General's reporting on verification and monitoring under the UNSCR 2231 has lapsed. In the IAEA the implementation of the JCPOA, as well as verification and monitoring in the Islamic Republic of Iran in light of UNSCR 2231, were enacted by the resolution of the Board of Governors of 15 December 2015 (GOV/2015/72). This resolution remains in force and is the sole guidance that the IAEA Secretariat is bound by in this matter.
Operative paragraph 14 of this Resolution unequivocally stipulates that the Board "decides to remain seized of the matter until ten years after the JCPOA Adoption Day or until the date on which the Director General reports that the Agency has reached the Broader Conclusion for Iran, whichever is earlier". Consequently, as of 18 October 2025, the related agenda item has been automatically removed from the agenda of the Board of Governors, and no further action is required in this regard.
Our countries once again emphasize that it is essential that the relevant parties stay committed to finding a political settlement that accommodates the concerns of all parties through diplomatic engagement and dialogue based on the principles of mutual respect, and refrain from unilateral sanction, threat of force, or any other action that may escalate the situation, and that all countries should contribute to creating a favorable atmosphere and conditions for diplomatic efforts.
It is the hope of the Permanent Missions of China, the Russian Federation and the Islamic Republic of Iran that this letter will be duly circulated to all IAEA Member States by the Secretariat as an INFCIRC document.
Please accept, Excellency, the assurances of our highest consideration.