Iran confirms UN Resolution 2231 expired, condemns US, E3 violation
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Iranian FM Abbas Araghchi affirms that UN Security Council Resolution 2231 has expired, firmly defending Iran’s nuclear rights under the agreement.
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Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi looks on during a meeting with Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Rafael Grossi, and Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty, at Tahrir Palace in Cairo, on September 9, 2025. (AP Photo/Khaled Elfiqi)
In a letter addressed to the UN Secretary-General and the Presidency of the Security Council, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi affirmed that UN Security Council Resolution 2231 has expired and fully ceased to be in effect as of today, in accordance with its explicit provisions.
He underscored that the nuclear agreement reflected the international community’s shared belief that diplomacy and multilateral engagement remain the most effective means to resolve conflicts.
Araghchi recalled that Washington initially refrained from fulfilling its commitments before withdrawing from the agreement, reimposing what he described as illegal and unilateral sanctions, and even expanding them. "These coercive measures," he noted, "constituted a grave violation of international law and the UN Charter, causing severe disruption in the implementation of the agreement."
In his letter, Araghchi added that the E3 failed to fulfill their obligations and instead imposed additional illegal sanctions on Iranian individuals and institutions. Despite this, he said, Iran demonstrated the utmost restraint in the face of repeated and fundamental violations, making extensive efforts to restore balance and preserve the agreement.
After a full year of Iran's continued compliance, Araghchi explained, Iran began implementing gradual, proportionate, and reversible compensatory steps in line with its recognized rights under the deal.
'E3’s snapback attempt lacks legal validity'
Iran's top diplomat stated that the E3’s attempt to activate the snapback mechanism by directly resorting to the UN Security Council disregarded the dispute settlement process stipulated in the nuclear agreement, stressing that the attempt suffers from procedural flaws and lacks any legal validity or authority.
"No action taken in violation of UN Security Council Resolution 2231 can create any legal obligation upon member states," Araghchi affirmed, emphasizing that any claim to "revive" or "reimpose" expired resolutions is null and void, lacking legal basis and producing no binding effect.
Araghchi highlighted that the Non-Aligned Movement, during its 19th Meeting of Foreign Ministers, reaffirmed in its final document that Resolution 2231 had expired on its scheduled date. He also referred to the two Security Council voting sessions held on 19 and 26 September 2025, which demonstrated the absence of consensus among Council members regarding the validity of the notification to trigger the “snapback” mechanism.
Iran warns against unauthorized UN Secretariat actions
Araghchi asserted that Resolution 2231 does not grant the Secretary-General or the UN Secretariat any authority or mandate to determine, announce, reactivate, or reinstate resolutions that have expired under operative paragraph 8.
He added that any such action would exceed the legal authority conferred by the UN Charter and contradict the purely administrative and neutral role of the Secretariat. "Any ‘notification of snapback activation’ or 'confirmation' issued by the Secretariat is legally void and undermines the credibility of the organization," he wrote.
Araghchi concluded that no member state, the Secretariat, or any official may take legal action in this regard without a new and explicit resolution from the Security Council.
Earlier last week, Araghchi condemned Trump, accusing him of spreading falsehoods about Iran’s nuclear program and being misled by Israeli deception. His remarks followed an earlier statement by the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which condemned Trump’s address at the Israeli Knesset as “irresponsible and shameful.”
In a post on X, Araghchi said it was “more than clear” that Trump had been “badly fed the fake line” that Iran’s peaceful nuclear program was on the verge of weaponization. He described this claim as a “BIG LIE", emphasizing that even the US intelligence community had confirmed there was "zero proof" of such allegations.
"The real bully of the Middle East, Mr. President, is the same parasitic actor that has long been bullying and milking the United States," Araghchi declared, referring to "Israel".
