Gharib Abadi: Iran will respond proportionately to Europe’s potential use of the snapback mechanism

Kazem Gharib Abadi, Deputy for Legal and International Affairs of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in an interview with Mizan, said: Iran will take proportionate action in response to Europe’s potential use of the snapback mechanism.

Regarding the European troika’s (France, Germany, and the UK) interest in joining indirect Iran-U.S. negotiations, Gharib Abadi stated: Indirect negotiations between Iran and the U.S. are ongoing, and it is natural that if other parties wish to join these talks, both Iran and the U.S., as the main parties, must agree.

He noted that any addition to the composition of the talks should be evaluated to determine its significance in achieving the negotiations’ objectives.

Explaining Iran’s goals in the indirect negotiations with the U.S., the Deputy for Legal and International Affairs of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said: The goal of the negotiations, as far as Iran is concerned, is to ensure the effective lifting of all sanctions in a way that Iran can derive economic benefits from their removal. This will be a key indicator for us in deciding whether other parties should join the talks.

He added: At the same time, the U.S. side must also be favorable to the inclusion of other parties in the negotiations; this is one point.

Gharib Abadi further addressed the recent threats by the European troika to use the snapback mechanism, stating: The talk of snapback that we occasionally hear from Europeans is another point. Europeans themselves know that if they take such an action, it will not only destroy the space opened for diplomacy but also prompt a proportionate reaction from the Islamic Republic of Iran.

The Deputy for Legal and International Affairs of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs emphasized: Such mechanisms are highly destructive and negative, and we hope Europeans will consider the consequences of such actions. Instead of focusing on these negative and destructive points, they should outline how they plan to contribute constructively and positively to this diplomatic process.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs official concluded: What we need now is for Europeans to come forward and outline their plans in this regard, rather than issuing threats, to which the Islamic Republic of Iran will naturally respond with proportionate actions.