Iran is working with China and Russia as it seeks to move on from the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, or “Iran deal,” aiming for Iran’s emergence from any kind of crisis over its nuclear program. The Islamic Republic of Iran also wants the veneer of legality so that it can make choices about the future of its nuclear program, both the military and ostensibly peaceful aspects.
Iranian state media IRNA noted on October 19 that “Iran, China, and Russia have written a joint letter to the United Nations secretary-general, affirming termination of UN Security Council (UNSC) Resolution 2231 concerning the Islamic Republic’s peaceful nuclear energy program.”
Resolution 2231 was the 2015 resolution concerning the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action or what was known as the Iran deal.
The goal of the deal was to make sure Iran didn’t enrich uranium toward a nuclear weapon. In exchange, Iran got relief from sanctions. The United States walked away from the Iran deal in 2018. European countries continued with the program but recently announced a snapback of sanctions.
French daily Le Monde noted that “Iran said on Saturday, October 18, that it was no longer bound by restrictions on its nuclear program as a landmark 10-year deal between it and world powers expired.”
Iran said it is still committed to diplomacy. IRNA called China and Russia “allies” and noted that they “affirm that in accordance with operative paragraph 8 of Resolution 2231, all its provisions are terminated after 18 October 2025.” This suggests that we can now mark the end of the Iran deal, which lasted from July 20, 2015, to October 18, 2025.
The deal 'a piece of history'
The deal was considered a major achievement by the Obama administration and its foreign policy chief, John Kerry. It would now appear to be a piece of history.
“Upon ratification, it mandated suspension of nuclear-related sanctions against the Islamic Republic. The United States, though, left the deal and returned its sanctions in an illegal and unilateral move in 2018,” IRNA noted.
The report in Iranian media also said that the US has been pushing for “snapback” since 2020. “The US’s European allies then succumbed to American pressure, betraying a pledge to return Washington to the deal and also suspending their own trade with the Islamic Republic.”
IRNA added that “Earlier this year, the European states – namely the UK, France, and Germany – tried their hand at triggering the 'snapback' mechanism that led to restoration of the sanctions late last month.”
The Iran-Russia-China letter
The Iran-Russia-China letter says that “The E3, having themselves ceased to perform their commitments under both the JCPOA and Resolution 2231 and also failing to exhaust the procedures of the Dispute Resolution Mechanism (DRM), lacks the standing to invoke its provisions.” The reports in Iran ended on a positive note, “the diplomats finally called on all parties to create a favorable atmosphere and conditions for diplomatic efforts.”
Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi cheered the joint letter. He published parts of it on October 19. “China, Iran and Russia affirm that the attempt by E3 to trigger the so-called snapback is, by default, legally and procedurally flawed,” Araghchi wrote.
Meanwhile, Iran continues its outreach to Turkey. The Islamic Republic has a new consul in Erzurum, Turkey. The new consul met with Iran’s foreign minister, Iranian state media noted. “At this meeting, the foreign minister also emphasized the importance of relations between the Islamic Republic of Iran and Turkey and the need to strengthen cooperation between the two countries, especially in the economic and consular fields.”
Meanwhile, Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister for Legal and International Affairs Kazem Gharibabadi outlined five key documents issued by other countries that “clearly and substantively” critique the E-3 European countries’ “attempt to reinstate previously lifted sanctions under UN Security Council Resolution 2231, deeming the move invalid and illegal.”
This is part of Iran’s full-court press to win the support of other countries in the world for its actions. “The senior diplomat emphasized that the declaration by the Group of Friends in Defense of the UN Charter, backed by all 18 member states, praised Iran’s continued commitment to dialogue and condemned the European snapback attempt as legally and procedurally baseless – citing the US withdrawal from the nuclear deal and Europe’s failure to uphold its obligations.”
Iran did not name the various countries, but they appear linked to the Non-Aligned Movement.
IRNA noted that at the “19th Ministerial Meeting of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM), held in Kampala, Uganda, on October 15-16, all 121 member states reaffirmed their commitment to multilateralism and the timeline set by Resolution 2231.”
Iran also reached out to Egypt to discuss Gaza and Middle East issues.
Araghchi spoke to Badr Abdelatty, the Egyptian foreign minister. Abdelatty said last week that Egypt was moving forward to support the Trump Gaza peace plan. Egypt had told the Allied Press (AP) that 15 Palestinian technocrats had been selected to administer Gaza. However, the Rafah crossing remains closed, and it is unclear how progress can be made.
Last week, Iran’s Culture and Islamic Guidance minister praised ties with Turkey.
“The two governments have had and continue to have good relations and common positions on various issues,” Abbas Salehi said in a meeting with Hejabi Kerlankic, the Turkish ambassador to Tehran.
Salehi added, “The relations between the peoples of Iran and Turkey are old and historical, and the two governments have had and continue to have good relations and common positions on various issues. God willing, we will end the year 2025 with high-quality cultural programs in Iran and Turkey.”