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Snapback: What is Being Said

While waiting for news from the UNSC closed door meeting today on the E3 snapback mechanism initiation, it is instructive to note what the players involved have said to the media, which is probably similar to the positions taken in the meeting. 

Russia 
Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs: “We strongly condemn these actions by European countries and call on the international community to reject them.” 
Dmitry Polyanskiy, Russia’s UN Ambassador: The "move by E3 cannot and should not entail any legal or procedural effect. It's a mere escalatory step. Western countries…don't care about diplomacy, and they care only about, blackmail and, threats, and coercion of independent countries. The world is at a crossroads. It's quite clear. One option is peace, diplomacy and goodwill. Another option is…diplomacy at the barrel of the gun…extortion and blackmail.” "The United States abandoned JCPOA, and since then the situation started [to] deteriorate. We all know that the measures that were taken by Iran in terms of uranium enrichment, they were taken in response to the U.S. withdrawal from JCPOA. And these measures can easily be reviewed." 
Mikhail Ulyanov, Russia's envoy to international organizations in Vienna: Condemned the E3 for triggering the snapback mechanism, calling it "a big mistake" and "yet another irresponsible step" that could push negotiations into "a total deadlock," raising concerns about further escalating tensions. 

China 
Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun: The move by the European countries was “not constructive”. “The Iranian nuclear issue is at a critical juncture. Launching the Security Council’s snapback mechanism of sanctions is not constructive and will undermine the process of a political and diplomatic settlement of the Iranian nuclear issue.” 

Iran 
Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi: The E3 move was “unjustified” and “lacking any legal basis.” “The Islamic Republic of Iran will respond appropriately to this unlawful and unwarranted measure.” To EU foreign policy chief Kajal Kallas: Iran would not recognize the snapback's legitimacy and would act to defend its interests. Iran is ready to resume "fair and balanced" negotiations on its nuclear program if the West showed seriousness, goodwill and avoids actions that could undermine the chances of success. 
Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei: The E3's move was not grounded in "legal necessity or sound judgment" but reflected compliance with the U.S.'s "maximum pressure" directive.
Iran's U.N. Ambassador Amir Saeid Iravani: The E3 offer was "full of unrealistic preconditions. They are demanding conditions that should be the outcome of negotiations, not the starting point, and they know these demands cannot be met.” The E3 should instead back "a short, unconditional technical extension of Resolution 2231", which enshrines a 2015 nuclear deal that lifted U.N. and Western sanctions on Iran in return for curbs on its nuclear program. 
Iranian MP Hossein-Ali Haji-Deligani: The parliament is planning legislation that would take the country out of the NPT in response to the European move. “The draft law is on the agenda and will undergo the legal review and approval process next week.” Given the possible reimplementation of UN sanctions, further nuclear negotiations with the West would no longer make sense. The only option would be to completely sever ties with the European trio. 
Iranian Foreign Ministry: The move by the European countries will “gravely undermine” its ongoing cooperation with IAEA. 

E3 
Britain's U.N. Ambassador Barbara Woodward: "Our asks were fair and realistic. However, as of today, Iran has shown no indication that it is serious about meeting them. We urge Iran to reconsider this position, to reach an agreement based on our offer, and to help create the space for a diplomatic solution to this issue for the long term.” 

U.S. 
Spokesperson for U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio: Washington welcomed the initiation of the snapback and said it would work with the E3 to see it through. At the same time, the U.S. remained open to direct engagement with Iran to pursue a peaceful, lasting resolution to the nuclear issue.

Sources: Reuters, Al Jazeera, Newsweek, Fox News

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