Russian block on Iran sanctions: Fierce fire directed at Britain, Germany, and France

Moscow warns it will blow up any European attempt to restore sanctions, accusing London, Paris, and Berlin of violating the very core of the nuclear agreement. Dmitry Polyanskiy, Russia's new representative to the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), stated on Wednesday that the so-called European Troika—the United Kingdom, Germany, and France—does not have the right to activate the snapback mechanism against the Iranian nuclear program. According to him, the three nations have forfeited this right because they failed to comply with UN Security Council Resolution 2231, which formed the legal basis of the 2015 nuclear deal and expired on October 18, 2025. Polyanskiy emphasized that Russia will block any attempt to revive old sanction mechanisms within the Security Council.

"Snapback exists only in a parallel reality"

In an interview with the TAI agency, the Russian diplomat noted: "In our view, this so-called rapid snapback mechanism does not exist, except in a parallel reality that the European Troika is trying to create. We act based on international law, according to which Britain, France, and Germany have lost the right to use this mechanism due to their failure to implement Security Council Resolution 2231." Polyanskiy, who previously served as Russia’s deputy permanent representative to the UN, added that "for us and for the countries that share our position, this resolution expired on October 18, 2025." He stressed that "consequently, we will certainly oppose any attempt to restore previous sanction mechanisms against Iran in the Security Council, which were lifted in 2015 under Resolution 2231."

No need for "new initiatives"

The Russian official also pointed out that Moscow does not require "any new initiative" to implement this policy line, suggesting that Russia's stance on the issue is established and absolutely clear.

European moves and Iranian reaction

On September 26, the UN Security Council rejected a draft resolution submitted by Russia and China for a six-month extension of Resolution 2231. A few days later, on September 29, the European Council decided to follow the line of the European Troika and reinstate certain restrictions against Iran. These measures include EU entry bans for specific individuals, asset freezes for natural and legal persons, trade restrictions, the freezing of assets of the Central Bank of Iran and several large commercial banks, as well as a ban on flights by Iranian cargo aircraft from European airports. Tehran has stated that European countries possess neither the legal nor moral legitimacy to activate this specific mechanism against Iran.

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