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Iran, Russia and China declare 2015 nuclear deal terminated, condemn Western "snapback" sanctions as illegal

By kevinhughes // 2025-10-22

• Iran, Russia and China declared the 2015 Iran nuclear deal (JCPOA) terminated, citing the expiration of UN Security Council Resolution 2231, which endorsed the agreement and its "snapback" sanctions mechanism.
• The three nations condemned France, Germany and the U.K. (E3) for attempting to reimpose sanctions via the "snapback" mechanism, calling it "legally and procedurally flawed," especially after U.S.-Israeli airstrikes targeted Iranian nuclear facilities.
• Iran, Russia and China argue that the E3 lost legal standing to enforce the JCPOA after failing to uphold commitments and not condemning attacks on Iran's nuclear sites. Over 120 Non-Aligned Movement states and 21 "Group of Friends" nations reject the sanctions as invalid.
• With the JCPOA terminated, Iran is no longer bound by its nuclear limits but claims adherence to the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT). IAEA monitoring of Iran's nuclear program now lacks a legal basis unless new agreements are reached.
• The collapse of the JCPOA deepens tensions between Iran and the West, with Russia and China backing Tehran. The U.S. and E3 face dwindling leverage, raising concerns over renewed conflict or stalled diplomacy.

Iran, Russia and China have formally declared the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) terminated. "JCPOA, commonly known as the Iran nuclear deal, was a multilateral agreement regarding Iran's nuclear program. It was signed on July 14, 2015, by Iran, China, France, Germany, Russia, the United Kingdom, the United States and the European Union. The agreement aimed to limit Iran's nuclear capabilities and ensure that its nuclear program was peaceful in nature," BrightU.AI's Enoch explained. The three nations sent a joint letter to the United Nations Security Council on Saturday, Oct. 18, condemning France, Germany and the United Kingdom (E3) for attempting to reimpose sanctions through the deal's "snapback" mechanism, which they argue is "legally and procedurally flawed." The termination marks the end of UN Security Council Resolution 2231, which endorsed the JCPOA and established the snapback provision—a mechanism allowing sanctions to be reinstated if Iran violated the agreement. The E3 triggered this mechanism in August, accusing Tehran of failing to uphold its nuclear commitments. However, Iran, Russia and China insist the move is invalid, particularly after U.S.-Israeli airstrikes earlier this year destroyed key Iranian nuclear facilities, including Natanz and Fordow. In their letter, the three nations asserted that the E3 "ceased to perform their commitments" under the JCPOA and Resolution 2231, stripping them of any legal standing to invoke sanctions. They emphasized that the resolution's provisions—including restrictions on Iran's nuclear program—expired on October 18, 2025, as originally stipulated. "The full and timely conclusion of Resolution 2231 marks the end of the Security Council's consideration of the Iranian nuclear issue and contributes to strengthening the authority of the Council and the credibility of multilateral diplomacy," the letter stated. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi blasted the E3's actions as "worn-out policies of threat and pressure," arguing that Western nations lost their moral authority to enforce the JCPOA after failing to condemn the U.S.-Israeli attacks. "The attempt by the E3 to trigger the so-called 'snapback' is by default legally and procedurally flawed," the joint letter declared. Iran has been actively rallying diplomatic support for its position. Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister for Legal and International Affairs Kazem Gharibabadi highlighted in a televised interview that more than 121 Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) member states affirmed Resolution 2231's expiration. Additionally, 21 countries from the Group of Friends in Defense of the UN Charter issued a statement rejecting the reimposition of sanctions as legally invalid. Gharibabadi said UN member states are not obliged to implement these sanctions. Russia's Foreign Ministry echoed this stance, reinforcing Tehran's argument that the snapback mechanism no longer holds weight. China, a key economic partner for Iran, has also signaled it will not comply with the sanctions, including the arms embargo.

Implications for Iran's nuclear program

With the JCPOA officially terminated, Iran is no longer bound by its nuclear restrictions, though Tehran insists it remains committed to the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) and Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei's fatwa prohibiting nuclear weapons. "The provisions of the deal, including the restrictions on the Iranian nuclear program and the related mechanisms, are considered terminated," Iran's Foreign Ministry stated. However, the ministry reiterated openness to diplomacy—though prospects for renewed talks with the U.S. remain bleak, given Washington's hardline stance under both the Trump and Biden administrations. Another critical consequence of Resolution 2231's expiration is the end of mandatory International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) reporting on Iran's nuclear activities. Previously, the IAEA submitted quarterly reports on Tehran's compliance with the JCPOA. Now, such oversight will require new agreements. Gharibabadi noted that without Resolution 2231, the IAEA Board of Governors no longer has a legal basis to demand these reports—potentially reducing transparency around Iran's nuclear advancements. The E3's decision to enforce snapback sanctions represents a stark reversal from their previous role as the JCPOA's defenders. After the U.S. withdrew from the deal in 2018 under President Donald Trump, European nations struggled to salvage it, often clashing with Washington's "maximum pressure" campaign. The termination of the JCPOA marks a pivotal moment in Iran's nuclear saga. With Russia and China firmly backing Tehran, and much of the Global South rejecting Western sanctions, the U.S. and E3 face dwindling leverage. As tensions rise, the question remains: Will diplomacy prevail, or will the collapse of the nuclear deal push the region closer to conflict? For now, Iran's message is clear—it will not bend to coercion. Watch the video below about Iran suspending cooperation with IAEA. This video is from the Cynthia's Pursuit of Truth channel on Brighteon.com. Sources include: News.Antiwar.com BrightU.ai MehrNewsAgency.com IranFrontPagenews.com AnadoluAjansi.com Brighteon.com

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