Iran’s national security commission chairman, Abbas Moqtadaei, has warned that the country may withdraw its security commitments if European states invoke a UN mechanism to reimpose international sanctions on the Islamic Republic. The threat comes ahead of a meeting between Iranian deputy foreign ministers and British, French, and German diplomats in Istanbul.
The three European countries – known as E3 – have said they will restore sanctions on Iran by the end of August unless the country enters productive talks on its nuclear program with Western powers. Israel’s attack on Iran in June led to the suspension of such talks.
Moqtadaei stated that Europe is not in a position to threaten itself in the Hormuz Strait, as it faces conflicts with Russia, China, and the US. Iran’s foreign ministry spokesperson had previously warned that Tehran would react if the E3 invoked the UN snapback mechanism, which expires on October 18.
The EU, along with China and Russia, are the remaining parties to a 2015 nuclear deal that lifted sanctions on Iran in return for restrictions on its nuclear program. The US withdrew from this pact in 2018, leaving the E3 as the primary opponents of Iran’s nuclear ambitions.
Source: https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/iranian-lawmaker-points-regional-insecurity-if-un-sanctions-are-reimposed-2025-07-21