The spokesman for the Iranian Foreign Ministry denounced the US and three European countries for their move to invoke the snapback mechanism, saying the UN Security Council’s (UNSC) division over the issue highlights its lack of legality and legitimacy, Tasnim reports.

In a post on his X account on Monday, Esmaeil Baqaei said while the European troika (known as EU3 or E3) acts under the US direction, six out of 15 UNSC members withheld support for the reimposition of terminated resolutions, demonstrating deep divisions within the Security Council.

“The UNSC’s failure to endorse the draft resolution on extending Resolution 2231 is a clear demonstration of a so-called ‘rules-based order’ where one ruler dictates (National Security Presidential Memorandum/NSPM-2) and the E3 merely obey,” the Iranian MFA spokesperson said.

“Still, the fact that 6 out of 15 Council members withheld a ‘yes’ vote on reinstating terminated resolutions—despite all sorts of pressure from the E3 and the United States—underscores how divided the Council is. Nearly half of its members are unconvinced that the E3-triggered reimposition is justified, legitimate, or legal,” Baqaei added.