Iran, Russia, China hold trilateral talks to counter West's pressure

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
23 Jul 2025 06:07
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Iran hosts a trilateral meeting with Russia and China to strengthen coordination on the nuclear file, reject Western sanctions, and counter potential snapback measures.

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Chinese Foreign Minister Wag Yi, during a meeting with Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov and Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Kazeem Gharibabadi, regarding the Iranian nuclear issue at Diaoyutai State Guest House, in Beijing, China, on March 14, 2025. (Pool Photo via AP)

Iran hosted a trilateral meeting with senior officials from Russia and China in Tehran on Tuesday to discuss the latest developments related to the Iranian nuclear file and efforts to lift Western-imposed sanctions.

The gathering, held under the auspices of Iran’s Foreign Ministry, resulted in a unified stance among the three nations, with participating delegations stressing the importance of continued coordination and mutual support in the face of escalating Western policies, particularly US-led sanctions and threats to activate the snapback mechanism.

Rejecting snapback as illegal and politicized

Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister for Legal and International Affairs, Kazem Gharibabadi, emphasized during the talks that the potential move by European states to reimpose UN sanctions under the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action's (JCPOA) snapback clause would be “entirely illegal” and lacked any legal or moral justification.

“The mechanism has no legal basis,” Gharibabadi stated, underscoring Iran’s position that the Western parties forfeited their right to trigger such measures after failing to meet their commitments following the United States’ unilateral withdrawal from the nuclear agreement in 2018.

He further noted that the tripartite talks laid the groundwork for broader international cooperation, warning against “coercive Western diplomacy” aimed at undermining Iran’s sovereign rights.

Strategic unity against Western hegemony

The Iranian Foreign Ministry described the meeting as part of “ongoing diplomatic efforts to confront unilateralism and hegemonic practices.” It reiterated that Western policies, most notably the sustained sanctions regime, have inflicted deep economic and humanitarian harm, not only on Iran but across the Global South.

The trilateral dialogue with Moscow and Beijing is seen in Tehran as a strategic axis for resisting pressure and shaping a multipolar regional order. All three countries agreed to intensify consultations in the coming weeks and months, with a shared understanding of the need to strengthen strategic convergence and resist foreign interference.

Upcoming talks with European troika

The Tehran meeting precedes another critical round of talks between Iran and the European Troika (France, Germany, and the UK), set to take place in Istanbul later this week. Gharibabadi confirmed that the upcoming session would address unresolved disputes, including Iran’s rejection of the snapback mechanism and the broader future of the nuclear agreement.

Iran is expected to outline practical proposals for managing tensions and preserving regional stability, while also demanding the full and unconditional lifting of sanctions as a precondition for any sustainable resolution.