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China and Russia reject European sanctions against Iran

China and Russia, permanent members of the UN Security Council, backed Iran in their rejection on Monday of a European move to reimpose UN Sanctions on Tehran that were loosened under an agreement on nuclear energy a decade earlier.

In a letter signed by China, Russia and Iran's foreign ministers, they said that a British, French and German move to restore sanctions automatically under the so-called "snapback" mechanism was "legally flawed and procedurally flawed".

China, Russia, and the three European nations, collectively known as E3, were all signatories of the 2015 Iran nuclear deal. Donald Trump, the first American president to serve in office, pulled the United States from the agreement during his first term.

The Europeans have launched the "snapback Mechanism"

Last week

Iran is accused of breaking the agreement, which provided relief from international sanctions in exchange for curbs on Iran's nuclear program.

In a letter posted on X, Iran's foreign minister Abbas Araqchi said that Britain, France and Germany were "abusing the authority and functions" of the UN Security Council.

Iran has been breaking the limits set by the 2015 agreement on uranium. It argues that this is because Washington pulled out of the deal. The agreement expires this October, and a snapback mechanism will allow the sanctions lifted as part of it to be reinstated.

Iran and E3 held discussions aimed at reaching a new agreement on nuclear energy after Israel and U.S.

Bombs dropped on Iran's nuclear facilities

Installations in mid-June. The E3 said that the Geneva talks last week had not produced enough signals to indicate Iran's readiness for a renewed deal.

In a post on X, Iran's Foreign Minister said: "Our joint message with my colleagues the foreign ministers from China and Russia signed in Tianjin reflects our firm position that European attempts to invoke snapback are legally baseless, and politically destructive". Reporting by Jana Choukeir, Elwely Elwelly and Peter Graff. Editing by Hugh Lawson.

(source: Reuters)