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A less predictable, more fragmented world, but inspectors in Iran

On October 24, 2025, in Responsible Statecraft, Eldar Mamedow wrote that ‘the world’s major powers are now operating under two irreconcilable interpretations of international law. On one side, the United States, the United Kingdom, France, and Germany assert that the sanctions snapback mechanism of the JCPOA was legitimately triggered for Iran’s alleged violations. On the other, Iran, Russia, and China reject this as an illegitimate procedural act. This has created a far less predictable and more fragmented world.’ 
        On Termination Day, October 18, 2025, Moscow’s foreign ministry said Western efforts to restore UN sanctions were “legally null and void.” And last week, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov issued a statement that contained the message: Russia now considers all pre-2015 U.N. sanctions on Iran, snapped back by the European signatories of the JCPOA, “annulled.” Moscow will deepen its military-technical cooperation with Tehran accordingly. 
        Regarding China, CNN reported on October 29, 2025, that a spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said Beijing viewed the return of sanctions under the snapback mechanism as “unconstructive” and a “serious setback” in efforts to “resolve the Iranian nuclear issue.” “We want to emphasize that China is committed to peacefully resolving the Iranian nuclear issue through political and diplomatic means and opposes sanctions and pressure.” 
        CNN also reported on October 29 that IAEA Director General Grossi said in an interview at United Nations headquarters in New York: “The nuclear material enriched at 60% is still in Iran. And this is one of the points we are discussing because we need to go back there and to confirm that the material is there and it’s not being diverted to any other use. This is very, very important.” Grossi said that inspectors are inside the country as of Wednesday (October 29). 
        Hopefully, Mamedow is overstating his case, and CNN’s reporting is correct that IAEA inspectors are in Iran.

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