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Veep reiterates snapback invocation lacks legal basis; Tehran ‘not worried’
Speaking at a ceremony in Tehran on Tuesday, he said Iran had given ultimatum to the European parties to the nuclear agreement in 2016 and 2017 that if they do not implement their obligations, Iran will not fulfill its commitments either. So, their move to trigger the mechanism lacks any legal basis.
"Since Iran does not possess nuclear weapons, as of October 18, Iran’s case at the International Atomic Energy Agency should be treated the same as those of countries that do not have nuclear arms.”
The Islamic Republic said on Saturday, October 18, that it was no longer bound by restrictions on its nuclear program as a landmark 10-year deal between it and world powers expired on the same day.
In 2015, Iran and world powers – including France, Britain and Germany – reached an agreement that saw the easing of international sanctions on Tehran in exchange for curbs on its nuclear program.
But the United States, during Trump's first term in office, unilaterally withdrew from the accord in 2018 and reimposed biting economic sanctions.
Tehran adhered to the deal until Washington's withdrawal, and then began rolling back on its commitments.
The European parties to the deal also failed to fulfill their commitment to the agreement. Several rounds of talks to revive the agreement failed, and in August, the UK, Germany and France triggered the so-called “snapback” process on the pretext of Iran’s non-compliance with its obligations, leading to the re-imposition of the UN sanctions.
Aref said that Iran is not worried about the sanctions because, “We have even surpassed the stage of circumventing sanctions.”
The VP further said that although sanctions have their repercussions, Iran implements internal measures to mitigate their effects.