(MENAFN) Reports indicate that Iran has firmly rejected any moves by the UK, Germany, and France to reinstate sanctions lifted under the 2015 nuclear agreement, asserting that these countries lack legal, political, or moral authority to do so.

In a statement on the social media platform X, Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said: “It is not just that the E3 has no legal, political, or moral entitlement to invoke ‘snapback,’ and that even if they did, ‘use or lose it’ doesn't work.” He added, “It's that the correct expression for the E3's dilemma is ‘use it and lose it.’ Or better yet, ‘use it and lose it all.’”

Last month, the three European countries said they had triggered the “snapback” mechanism under UN Security Council Resolution 2231, which would restore sanctions within 30 days if Iran failed to meet its obligations. The 2015 deal, from which the US withdrew during Donald Trump’s first term, had provided Iran with sanctions relief in exchange for curbs on its nuclear program.

Iran suspended cooperation with the UN nuclear watchdog after US and Israeli attacks in June, accusing the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) of bias. At the time, Iran was engaged in Oman-mediated nuclear negotiations with the US when Israel carried out a surprise strike on June 13, hitting military, nuclear, and civilian sites, as well as senior commanders and nuclear scientists

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