Iran’s foreign minister says Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) member states have voiced support for the Islamic Republic in opposing a European bid to reinstate UN sanctions.
Abbas Araghchi made the remarks in an interview with the IRIB news agency in Kampala, Uganda, where the 19th Midterm Ministerial Meeting of the Coordinating Bureau of the Non-Aligned Movement took place in Uganda’s capital, Kampala, on October 15-16.
The comments came less than a month after the conclusion of the so-called snapback process initiated by the UK, Germany, and France (collectively known as the E3) aimed at restoring all UN Security Council sanctions against Iran previously lifted under the US-abandoned 2015 nuclear deal.
Under Resolution 2231, which endorsed the agreement, all nuclear-related restrictions against Iran will end permanently on October 18, 2025.
Araghchi said that the NAM summit’s final statement includes a clause, which is of “exceptional importance: the declaration of support for the Islamic Republic of Iran regarding the snapback issue in the Security Council.”
“It states that, from the perspective of the Non-Aligned Movement, Resolution 2231 is still in effect and its provisions and timeline must be respected. According to paragraph 8, the resolution must be terminated on its scheduled date, October 18,” he added.
He also noted that Iran, Russia, China, and several other countries in the Security Council share the same position in this regard and oppose a claim by the US and the Europeans about the snapback activation.
“This is truly a major achievement for the Islamic Republic of Iran, as nearly all NAM members—over 100 countries—have supported this position,” he emphasized.
On August 28, the E3 invoked the 30-day snapback process. Tehran rejected the move as illegitimate, citing the US’s unilateral withdrawal from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) in 2018 and the European trio’s decision to align with unlawful anti-Iran sanctions.
On September 28, the US and the Europeans alleged that the anti-Iran UN resolutions and the associated sanctions were re-imposed, urging all UN member states to implement the restrictive measures.
Additionally, in his interview, Araghchi said NAM condemned June’s Israeli-US aggression against Iran as “heinous” and “unacceptable” and expressed solidarity with the nation in the face of the illegal assault. At least 1,064 people, including military commanders, nuclear scientists, and civilian,s were killed during the 12-day war against Iran.
He further referred to NAM’s denunciation of the Israeli attacks in September 2014, in which thousands of pagers distributed to members of the Hezbollah resistance group exploded simultaneously across Lebanon, followed by booby-trapped walkie-talkies.
At least 39 people were killed and more than 3,400 wounded in the terrorist attack, including children and other civilians who were near the devices when they blew up.
