Iran, Russia, and China to Hold Trilateral Talks Amid Tensions Over Nuclear Deal
Iran, Russia, and China are set to hold a high-level trilateral meeting on Tuesday to discuss the future of Tehran’s nuclear program and growing concerns surrounding the UN snapback mechanism, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei announced on Sunday.
The snapback mechanism — a provision within the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) — allows for the automatic reimposition of international sanctions on Iran in the event of non-compliance with the deal.
Baghaei criticized the European signatories to the JCPOA — the United Kingdom, France, and Germany (E3) — accusing them of failing to uphold their commitments under the agreement. His comments follow recent warnings from the E3 that sanctions could be reimposed unless Iran returns to the negotiating table.
“The European parties have been both negligent and at fault in implementing the nuclear agreement,” Baghaei said, pushing back against the E3’s threat to trigger the snapback process.
Diplomatic tensions have intensified in recent weeks, particularly after the E3 accused Tehran of continuing to breach uranium enrichment limits and restricting access to international inspectors.
Iran, however, maintains that its nuclear activities are peaceful and insists it is still open to diplomacy — but not under what it calls “coercive pressure” from Western powers.
The upcoming trilateral talks with Russia and China, both close strategic partners of Iran, are seen as a counterbalance to Western efforts to isolate Tehran diplomatically and economically.
The meeting also underscores the deepening alignment among U.S. rivals on key global issues, including nuclear proliferation, regional security, and the role of international sanctions.
