FM Araghchi: Snapback Threat Sparks Hostile Response, Jeopardizing New Deal with IAEA

Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Ali Araghchi on Tuesday warned that a freshly signed agreement with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) is conditional on no hostile actions against Iran. “If the so-called snapback mechanism is activated, the implementation of this document will also be halted,” he told Iranian media at the end of his trip to Egypt, where the deal was finalized, according to Press TV.

The “snapback” mechanism automatically reinstates UN sanctions, including arms embargoes and financial restrictions, under UN Security Council Resolution 2231—the framework of the 2015 nuclear deal. On August 29, France, Germany, and Britain (the E3) triggered the countdown for the sanctions’ return. Iran condemned the move, accusing the European powers of acting under U.S. influence following Washington’s 2018 exit from the JCPOA.

Araghchi stressed that the new agreement reflects the changed conditions after U.S. attacks on Iran’s nuclear facilities. “Cooperation with the Agency can no longer continue as before,” he said, emphasizing that a new framework is required to safeguard Iran’s security.

The agreement, signed in Cairo on September 9 with IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi, officially acknowledges Iran’s security concerns and legal framework. While it does not grant new access to IAEA inspectors, it lays the groundwork for future discussions on inspections and oversight.

Describing the deal as a major diplomatic step, Araghchi said it “eliminates pretexts and disarms those who sought to exploit the situation” and expressed hope it will lead to a genuine diplomatic solution.

The deal follows Iran’s suspension of cooperation with the IAEA in June, enacted in response to U.S. attacks on nuclear sites and in line with a parliamentary law passed to protest an IAEA resolution influenced by Western and Israeli pressure.