The governments of Russia and China have signaled their willingness to support Iran in resisting European sanctions over its nuclear program. This development comes as Tehran is accused of failing to meet its nuclear monitoring commitments.

Previously, the United Kingdom, Germany, and France—collectively known as the E3—warned that sanctions against Iran could be reinstated under United Nations Security Council Resolution 2231. They argue that Tehran has not complied with the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) nuclear agreement.

The resolution includes a “snapback” mechanism, allowing the UN to reimpose sanctions on Iran if it violates enrichment limits. However, no significant progress was made during the Iran-E3 meeting in Istanbul last July.

“We have made it clear that if Iran refuses to reach a diplomatic solution or fails to take advantage of the extension, the E3 is ready to trigger the snapback mechanism,” the three European countries stated on Thursday (August 21, 2025).

In response, Mikhail Ulyanov, Russia’s chief envoy to international organizations in Vienna, indicated Moscow’s readiness to defend Tehran. He accused the three European states of attempting to “blackmail” and “threaten” Iran with their late-August deadline for a new nuclear deal.

“In other words, the E3’s attempt to trigger #SnapBack despite their own non-compliance would contradict the fundamental principles of international law,” Ulyanov wrote on his X account, as quoted by Newsweek.

China expressed a similar stance. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian stated that the snapback mechanism would not help build trust or bridge differences, but rather worsen the situation and undermine diplomatic efforts to restart negotiations.

“Any step taken by the Security Council at this stage should help facilitate a new agreement in the negotiations, not hinder it,” Lin stressed.

If China and Russia refuse to recognize the mechanism or move to block its enforcement, the West’s ability to pressure Iran diplomatically will be severely hampered.

The absence of new sanctions could further erode Europe’s influence while increasing Tehran’s reliance on Moscow and Beijing. This, in turn, is expected to heighten the likelihood of the United States (U.S.) resorting to military action.

This week, Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi met with Chinese and Russian diplomats to discuss joint steps to counter what they view as the E3’s destructive approach. He argued that the E3 proposal lacks a clear legal basis.

“The three countries believe that Resolution 2231 must expire at the designated time and that these nations have no legal right to trigger the snapback mechanism or reinstate the Security Council resolution,” he stated.