Tehran Told European Powers Sanctions Would Have Consequences: Iranian Official

Iran’s deputy foreign minister for legal and international affairs, Kazem Gharibabadi, called for diplomacy to be given ’time and space.’

A cleric walks past Zolfaghar and Dezful missiles in Tehran, Iran, on Jan. 7, 2022. Vahid Salemi/AP Photo

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei said on Aug. 26 that a delegation from Tehran told negotiators from the UK, France, and Germany that triggering so-called snapback sanctions would have consequences.

Baghaei said Tehran told the European countries—collectively known as the E3—that they do not have the right to trigger the snapback mechanism over Iran’s nuclear program. He did not provide details about the possible consequences.

Talks in Geneva are continuing as the E3 seeks to persuade Iran to make concessions that would avoid the need to reimpose U.N. sanctions, which were suspended as part of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) deal in 2015.

The mechanism is set to lapse on Oct. 18, but the E3 has stated that it will begin the reimposition process unless Iran makes concessions by Aug. 31.

If the mechanism is initiated, it would mean a return to wide-ranging sanctions on Iran, including a conventional arms embargo, restrictions on ballistic missile development, asset freezes, and travel bans for individuals involved in the regime or the nuclear program.

The mechanism allows for sanctions to be reimposed without being vetoed by Russia or China, both of whom are permanent members of the U.N. Security Council.

Iran ‘Committed to Diplomacy’

Iran’s deputy foreign minister for legal and international affairs, Kazem Gharibabadi, said in an Aug. 26 post on X that Iran remains “committed to diplomacy and a mutually beneficial diplomatic solution.”

“High time for the E3 and UNSC to make the right choice, and give diplomacy time and space,” Gharibabadi said.

The E3 agreed with the United States to set an end-of-August deadline for triggering the snapback sanctions if Iran failed to meet several conditions.

They included allowing U.N. nuclear inspectors access to all sites in Iran and accounting for 400 kilograms of highly enriched uranium.

Another condition was that Iran must resume direct negotiations with the United States over its nuclear program.

Iranian leader Ali Khamenei gave a speech on Aug. 24 in which he refused direct negotiations with the United States and said the situation was unsolvable.

Russia proposed a draft resolution on Aug. 24 to delay the expiration of the snapback mechanism clause until spring 2026.

President Donald Trump addresses the nation following the U.S. bombing of Iran's nuclear facilities from the White House on June 21, 2025. Carlos Barria/Pool/AFP via Getty Images

Deputy Russian Ambassador to the U.N. Dmitry Polyanskiy said on Aug. 26 that a second version of the resolution is being circulated among Security Council members and is supported by China.

Polyanskiy said, “Hopefully, it will be acceptable, and I think it will be kind of a litmus test for those who really want to uphold diplomatic efforts and for those who don’t want diplomatic solutions but just want to pursue their own nationalist, selfish agendas against Iran.”

U.S. President Donald Trump terminated U.S. participation in the JCPOA in May 2018 during his first term and reimposed U.S. sanctions.

Trump renewed a policy of “maximum pressure” on the Iranian regime on Feb. 4, shortly after beginning his second term.

By then, Iran had enriched uranium to 60 percent purity, close to the roughly 90 percent required for weapons-grade material.

Iran, which has among the largest oil and gas reserves in the world, has said for decades that its nuclear activities are for peaceful purposes, not for making weapons.

The Atomic Energy Organization of the Islamic Republic of Iran’s website quotes a statement from Khamenei in which he said: “The Islamic Republic of Iran regards use of nuclear and chemical weapons as a cardinal and unforgivable sin. We raised the slogan ‘Middle East free from nuclear weapons,’ and we remain committed to this slogan.”

The International Atomic Energy Agency’s (IAEA’s) 35-nation board of governors passed a resolution on June 12 declaring Iran noncompliant and in breach of its obligations under the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty.

Within hours of the passage of that resolution, Israel began bombing nuclear sites and other targets within Iran.

Iran and the United States were attempting to negotiate a new deal to replace the JCPOA, with a sixth round of negotiations due to take place in Muscat, Oman, on June 15. Those talks were canceled following the Israeli strikes.

A cease-fire was finally agreed on June 24, hours after the Iranians launched a missile strike against a U.S. military base in Qatar in retaliation for the U.S. bombing of Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan.

Inspectors Back in Iran

The head of the IAEA, Rafael Grossi, told Fox News’ “The Story with Martha MacCallum” on Aug. 26 that a team of IAEA inspectors was back in Iran for the first time since Israel and the United States bombed Tehran’s nuclear facilities.

Grossi, who is in Washington to meet Trump administration officials, said Iran had many nuclear facilities.

He said, “Some were attacked, and some were not.”

Before and after the June 21 U.S. bombing of the Fordow uranium enrichment site, north of Qom, Iran. Illustration by The Epoch Times, Reuters, Shutterstock

Grossi said the IAEA was in discussion with the Iranian government about restarting inspections.

The Associated Press and Reuters contributed to this report.