Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has decried as “devoid of legal basis” attempts by the three European signatories to the 2015 Iran nuclear deal — known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) — to revive and reinstate the previously terminated UN sanctions resolutions against the Islamic Republic.

Araghchi made the statement in a letter on Saturday to Antonio Guterres, the United Nations secretary general, and Vassily Nebenzia, the rotating president of the Security Council, on the same day that Security Council Resolution 2231, which endorsed the JCPOA, expires.

In the letter, the foreign minister reaffirmed Tehran’s position that Resolution 2231 has “definitively expired and terminated” in accordance with its own provisions.

“As detailed in the joint letter of the Foreign Ministers of the Islamic Republic of Iran, the People’s Republic of China, and the Russian Federation dated 28 August 2025 (A/79/1004-S/2025/546), the European parties’ attempt to invoke the so-called ‘notification’ is procedurally defective and substantively void,” he wrote.

“No measure taken in disregard of resolution 2231 can generate legal obligations for Member States. The Security Council’s voting record and the clear positions expressed by its members confirm that the so-called ‘notification’ has no legal validity. Accordingly, any claim of ‘reviving’ or ‘reinstating’ terminated resolutions is void ab initio, lacking legal foundation and incapable of producing a binding effect.”

Araghchi emphasized that the procedure pursued by the three European states — France, Germany, and the United Kingdom — constitutes a clear abuse of process, contrary to both the letter and spirit of resolution 2231 and the JCPOA.

The top Iranian diplomat said the JCPOA entered into force with the endorsement of resolution 2231 a decade ago, reflecting the collective conviction that diplomacy and multilateral engagement remain the most effective means of addressing disputes.

The Islamic Republic of Iran, consistent with its unwavering commitment to the peaceful settlement of disputes, accepted and fully implemented the JCPOA in good faith and in strict conformity with its commitments, he added.

“Despite Iran’s full and verified compliance, the United States—acting in manifest violation of its obligations—first failed to perform its commitments and subsequently, on 8 May 2018, unilaterally withdrew from the agreement, reimposing and expanding its unlawful unilateral and extraterritorial sanctions. These coercive measures constituted a grave breach of international law and the UN Charter, and severely obstructed the implementation of the JCPOA,” Araghchi said.

“The European participants, namely, France, Germany, and the United Kingdom, while initially pledging to preserve the agreement and counterbalance the U.S. withdrawal, not only failed to honor their own commitments but imposed additional unlawful sanctions on Iranian nationals and entities, thereby committing further material violations of the JCPOA.”

The Iranian foreign minister stressed that in the face of such breaches, the Islamic Republic exercised maximum restraint and undertook extensive diplomatic efforts to restore balance and preserve the agreement.

“Iran’s record of constructive engagement, including numerous rounds of consultations with the European participants and even negotiations with the US side, demonstrates its consistent commitment to diplomacy,” Araghchi said.

“Yet, these good-faith efforts were met with acts of sabotage and aggression against Iran’s safeguarded peaceful nuclear facilities. In recent months, rather than fulfilling their obligations, the three European States have embarked upon a campaign of political manipulation and legal distortion, seeking to weaponize the very mechanism of the so-called snapback against Iran.”

Araghchi underlined that the three European States participants — without any legitimate, legal, and procedural basis, or political justification — initiated a unilateral and arbitrary attempt to invoke the so-called “snapback” mechanism on August 28, bypassing the dispute-resolution process established by the JCPOA and directly appealing to the Security Council.

“The two Security Council votes held on 19 and 26 September 2025 demonstrated unequivocally the absence of consensus among Council members regarding the validity of this purported notification,” he said.

“Just as in 2020, when the Council confirmed that the United States lacked standing to invoke the mechanism after its withdrawal, the European notification is similarly devoid of legal basis and effect. It cannot serve as a ground for any action or determination concerning the status of resolution 2231 or the previously terminated sanctions resolutions.”

Araghchi emphasized that the procedure pursued by the three European States constitutes a clear abuse of process, contrary to both the letter and spirit of resolution 2231 and the JCPOA.

“Resolution 2231 (2015) has remained in effect until 18 October 2025, at which point—pursuant to operative paragraph 8—all its provisions, and those of the preceding terminated sanctions resolutions, are terminated and have no continuing legal effect,” he wrote.

“No previously terminated measures may be reinstated or enforced from that date forward. Any attempt to do so shall be regarded as unlawful and null and void.”

Araghchi also demanded that Saturday’s letter be circulated as an official document of the General Assembly and of the Security Council.