Russia, China, Iran send joint letter to IAEA on Resolution 2231 end
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Iran, Russia, and China informed the IAEA that Resolution 2231 has expired, ending the agency's reporting obligations under the JCPOA framework.
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Flags of Iran, Russia, and China (IRNA)
Iran, Russia, and China have jointly informed the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) that UN Security Council Resolution 2231 has officially expired as of October 18, according to a statement by Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister for Legal and International Affairs Kazem Gharibabadi.
In a post on his official X account, Gharibabadi announced that the ambassadors and permanent representatives of the three countries to the IAEA had submitted a joint letter to Director General Rafael Grossi, asserting that all provisions of Resolution 2231 have come to an end.
This diplomatic move follows a previous letter addressed to the UN Secretary-General and the President of the Security Council, in which Iran, Russia, and China declared the termination of Resolution 2231, which had endorsed the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) in 2015.
Gharibabadi emphasized that the latest communication is part of broader diplomatic efforts by the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Snapback mechanism 'illegal'
The letter reportedly rejects the legality of the decision by three European countries, the UK, France, and Germany, to activate the snapback mechanism, calling it a violation of the JCPOA framework.
According to Gharibabadi, the joint letter states that with the expiry of Resolution 2231, the IAEA’s reporting obligations related to verification and monitoring under that resolution should also cease.
Termination of IAEA reporting on Resolution 2231
The letter refers to Paragraph 14 of the IAEA Board of Governors’ resolution from December 15, 2015, which stated that “The Council decides to keep this matter on its agenda for 10 years or until the Director General publishes a more comprehensive summary report on Iran, whichever is sooner.”
Gharibabadi explained that since neither condition has been extended or renewed, the IAEA’s reporting responsibilities tied to the resolution are now terminated as of October 18.
“The relevant item on the Agency's agenda in this regard will be automatically removed, and no further action is required,” he added.
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