Araghchi: The EU’s portrayal of JCPOA compliance lacks credibility and validity

In the official and documented letter sent today to Kaya Kallas, Araghchi thoroughly responded to the EU’s letter dated August 18, 2025, which addressed matters related to the JCPOA and its dispute resolution mechanism. He detailed key points on the current status of the JCPOA and the functioning of the dispute resolution mechanism under the agreement.

At the outset, Araghchi expressed regret over what he described as a selective and incomplete narrative in the EU letter, noting that it ignored fundamental facts, procedural precedents related to the JCPOA, and UN Security Council Resolution 2231. He criticized the chronic disregard by the EU and the three European countries—France, Germany, and the UK—for their obligations.

Reiterating his previous positions expressed in correspondence dated July 22 and August 22, 2025, Araghchi emphasized that these three European countries lack any legal standing or authority to invoke the dispute resolution mechanism or to trigger the snapback of sanctions. He added that these positions are supported by Russia and China, referring to official explanatory notes submitted by both countries to the UN Security Council on August 11 and 19, 2025.

Araghchi also highlighted Iran’s long history of activating the dispute resolution mechanism, noting that Iran was the first JCPOA participant to use it in response to the U.S. withdrawal from the agreement and the failure of the EU and the Troika to fulfill their obligations. In rejecting claims that the mechanism was invoked only twice in 2020, he pointed to Iran’s use of it in a May 10, 2018 letter and during multiple Joint Commission meetings on May 25 and July 6, 2018, which occurred prior to Iran’s compensatory measures. He stressed that ignoring these precedents renders the EU’s arguments invalid.

Araghchi stated that Iran has acted in good faith and exhausted the dispute resolution mechanism, and therefore is entitled to take remedial measures. He added that the EU-Troika’s claimed activation of the mechanism in 2020 was explicitly rejected by Iran, Russia, and China, and never reached full exhaustion; it was an illegitimate and unacceptable “remedial action against remedial action” taken in response to Iran’s legitimate measures.

He also described the EU’s portrayal of JCPOA compliance as lacking any credibility or validity. Despite the suspension of certain sanctions in 2015, Europe has not fulfilled its obligations regarding the normalization of trade and economic relations with Iran, and has violated the agreement, including by failing to implement JCPOA’s “transition day” commitments on October 18, 2023, expanding sanctions against Iranian individuals and non-military entities, and reimposing sanctions on Iran’s airlines, shipping, vessels, and ports. He emphasized that eleven additional commitments from Europe after the July 6, 2018 foreign ministers’ meeting have also not been implemented.

Araghchi criticized the inefficiency of INSTEX as an insufficient and purely symbolic initiative that never facilitated a significant volume of trade. He also attributed the failure of the Vienna negotiations in 2021 and 2022 to U.S. obstinacy, domestic political considerations, and the Troika and EU tying negotiations to unrelated issues.

In another part of the letter, Araghchi strongly criticized the EU’s stance on illegal U.S. and Israeli attacks on Iran’s nuclear facilities, which he said constitute a clear violation of the UN Charter and international law, coupled with the Troika’s support through arms supplies and open backing. He said these actions further undermine the EU’s good faith. He also referenced statements made by Kallas regarding the “end of Iran’s nuclear program,” which he said deny the fundamental basis of the JCPOA and undermine the EU’s role as an impartial coordinator.

Finally, Araghchi emphasized that any attempts by the Troika to revive UN Security Council resolutions previously annulled by Resolution 2231 (2015) are invalid and ineffective, and that these resolutions should expire according to their timeline on October 18, 2025. He urged the EU to avoid selective interpretations and to work toward genuine diplomacy and the preservation of multilateralism. He also reiterated Iran’s readiness to resume fair and balanced diplomatic negotiations, provided the other parties demonstrate seriousness, good faith, and refrain from disruptive actions that undermine the prospects for success.

Earlier, in response to the Troika’s inappropriate and illegal misuse of the dispute resolution mechanism and Resolution 2231, EU High Representative Kaya Kallas had a phone conversation with Araghchi. During the call, Araghchi condemned the unlawful and unjustified actions of the three European countries, stating that these measures increase doubts about their true intentions toward Iran and complicate the pursuit of a diplomatic path.

The Foreign Minister stressed that Iran would take appropriate action in response to the provocative and improper behavior of the three European countries. In the same conversation, Kallas reaffirmed the necessity of finding a diplomatic solution, expressed her readiness to facilitate diplomacy and dialogue, and requested continued contact and consultation between the parties for this purpose.