Iran will host senior Russian and Chinese officials on Tuesday for talks on its nuclear program and the potential reactivation of United Nations sanctions, the Foreign Ministry said.
Speaking at a press briefing in Tehran on Monday, ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei said the consultations are aimed at preventing the so-called snapback mechanism from being triggered or minimizing its consequences if it is. His comments were carried by the semi-official Tasnim news agency.
The snapback provision, part of the 2015 nuclear agreement, allows parties to the deal to reimpose UN sanctions on Iran if it is found in violation of its commitments.
Baghaei also confirmed that Iran will meet later this week with the UK, France, Germany, and the European Union in Istanbul to discuss the standoff. The European trio has signaled readiness to trigger the snapback mechanism if Tehran does not return to negotiations.
“We have no plans to hold talks with the US in the current situation,” Baghaei added, noting that indirect discussions through Omani mediation broke down following Israel’s surprise attack on Iran on June 13. That attack, which Tehran says killed senior military officers, nuclear scientists, and civilians, sparked a 12-day conflict.
Baghaei accused Washington of complicity in the Israeli strikes and pointed to subsequent US attacks on three Iranian nuclear sites, which the Pentagon claimed to have destroyed. A ceasefire between the sides took effect on June 24, just days after the escalation derailed a planned sixth round of US-Iran talks in Muscat.
Iranian officials have not indicated whether Tuesday’s discussions with Moscow and Beijing are expected to yield any formal commitments.