Bringing nuclear deal into dispute rooted in weakness: Iran’s Foreign Ministry

Iran slams the launch by France, Britain and Germany of a dispute mechanism under the 2015 nuclear deal with Tehran as a “passive” move rooted in their “weakness,” warning that the Islamic Republic will give a firm response to any “unconstructive” move.

“The three European countries’ action is a completely passive move taken from a position of weakness,” Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Abbas Mousavi told reporters on Tuesday.

Although Iran responds in pure good faith to any well-intentioned action concerning the agreement, it would also respond “firmly, decisively, and aptly” to any act of non-commitment or malicious or unconstructive measure that could target the deal, he added.

Earlier in the day, the trio, collectively known as the EU3, formally triggered the dispute mechanism, which accuses Iran of violating the agreement and could lead to the restoration of the anti-Iran UN sanctions that had been lifted by the deal, named the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).

After the mechanism is implemented, Iran would be given 15 days to resolve the dispute with the threesome states. The process can ultimately lead to a “snapback” — which refers to the re-imposition of the UN Security Council’s sanctions that were lifted after the nuclear was reached in 2015.