Russian Foreign Ministry Declares US Sanctions on Iran as Illegal

In recent statements, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova has emphasized that sanctions imposed without the approval of the UN Security Council are considered illegal. This stance covers sanctions affecting countries such as Iran, Russia, and others.

“You know, we have the same reaction to all sanctions that bypass the UN Security Council. They are illegitimate, they are illegal, they are in an illegal field. In relation to Iran, they are accepted in relation to our country and other countries,” Zakharova told Izvestia on Tuesday.

Zakharova further pointed out that there is a unified response from both Moscow and Tehran regarding these sanctions, stating:

“There is only one reaction,” Zakharova said.

She highlighted that practical experiences have validated this shared perspective. Additionally, during a conversation with IRNA in Moscow, Zakharova discussed the mechanism known as “snapback.” This mechanism is intended to restore previously lifted UN Security Council sanctions against Tehran, particularly in scenarios where Iran is perceived to be the initial violator of the nuclear agreement, formally called the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).

Moreover, Zakharova asserted that the U.K., France, and Germany—collectively known as the E3—lack the authority to enact snapback sanctions on Iran. She noted that they have not fulfilled the stipulations outlined in UN Security Council Resolution 2231, which is pivotal to the now-stalled nuclear deal with Tehran.

• Sanctions imposed without UN Security Council approval are deemed illegal.
• Russia and Iran share a unified stance on these sanctions.
• The snapback mechanism is intended to reinstate sanctions if Iran violates the JCPOA.
• The E3 do not have the right to impose snapback sanctions due to non-compliance with Resolution 2231.