Ben Zhao Ziwen | 赵子文

Opinion my own @SCMPNews, alumni @hkbaptistu @bfsu_official

[Foreign Ministry, Islamic Republic of Iran @IRIMFA_EN]

Joint letter by the foreign ministers of #Iran, #China, & #Russia rejecting the alleged activation of the #snapback mechanism by three European countries

The Foreign Ministers of Iran, China, and Russia, in a joint letter addressed to the secretary general of the UN and president of the Security Council, rejected the attempt by the European troika to revive the annulled Security Council resolutions against Iran. They stressed that the notification submitted by the three European countries to the Security Council is contrary to the procedures set out in the JCPOA and Resolution 2231, lacks any legal basis, and must therefore be considered null and void.

In part of the joint letter, the foreign ministers said, “The action by the foreign ministers of the three European countries (E3) is clearly inconsistent with the above resolution and is therefore inherently flawed both legally and procedurally. The path pursued by the E3 misuses the authority and functions of the UN Security Council, while simultaneously misleading its members and the international community regarding the root causes of the disruption in the implementation of the JCPOA and Resolution 2231.”

The letter refers to the current state of the JCPOA as a result of the unilateral withdrawal of the US and the failure of the European countries to remedy the negative consequences of Washington's pullout, underlining that as long as the effects of the US withdrawal are not duly addressed, there can be no possibility of invoking the dispute resolution mechanism against Iran. The foreign ministers further pointed to well-established principles of international law and underscored that the three European countries, having themselves committed material breaches, cannot claim entitlement to the rights and mechanisms stipulated in the JCPOA and Resolution 2231.

The foreign ministers of Iran, China, and Russia stressed that unlike the actions of the European parties, “Iran’s reciprocal measures, including the suspension of its JCPOA commitments, were taken specifically in response to the US withdrawal and its total violation of its obligations under the JCPOA, and only after a sustained period of Iran’s continued compliance and the failure of the E3/EU in remedying the situation. The reciprocal steps taken by Iran cannot serve as a basis for activating the ‘snapback’ mechanism. It is unacceptable that this mechanism be abused to reward the US withdrawal and the subsequent non-compliance of the E3/EU with their commitments, including those outlined in the statement issued following the Joint Commission meeting of 25 May 2018.”

The letter stressed that the JCPOA is an inseparable part of Resolution 2231, and the three European countries cannot approach the Security Council without completing the JCPOA dispute resolution process. It added that the E3 have failed to complete this process and that “since the requirements under paragraphs 36 and 37 have not been fulfilled, the correspondence by the foreign ministers of France, Germany, and the UK cannot be regarded as a notification submitted by a JCPOA participant under paragraph 11 of Security Council Resolution 2231”.

The joint letter of Iran, Russia and China noted that according to the IAEA Iran followed through on its commitments after the JCPOA went into force in 2015. It underlined that"the re-imposition of annulled Security Council sanctions  is illogical and unreasonable. Such a move would only reward the E3 for their significant non-compliance, negate years of diplomatic efforts, undermine the credibility of multilateral agreements, and set a precedent for the selective application of international obligations. Therefore, the preservation of Security Council Resolution 2231, including its timelines, is of vital importance.”

The letter stressed that, in light of these reasons, “the Security Council cannot act on the basis of the letter submitted by the E3 and must consider it null and void. Any step or measure taken in disregard, or in violation, of Resolution 2231 cannot create binding international legal obligations for UN Member States.”

Iran, China and Russia  called on Security Council members to reject the notification submitted by the E3 and to reaffirm their commitment to the principles of international law and multilateral diplomacy. The letter also advised the E3 to withdraw from their current destructive path and to refrain from actions that weaken the unity and effectiveness of the Security Council.

Finally, the letter recommended that all parties pursue the path of dialogue and diplomacy, underlining the need to avoid intimidation, sanctions, and threats of the use of force.

Iran, China, and Russia requested the UN secretary general to circulate the letter as an official document of the UN among member states.

[Seyed Abbas Araghchi @araghchi]

Our joint letter with my colleagues, the Foreign Ministers of China and Russia, signed in Tianjin reflects the firm position that the European attempt to invoke “snapback” is legally baseless and politically destructive. By declaring the E3’s move null and void, we have placed on record that no party can erase the sequence of events: it was the United States that first violated the JCPOA and Resolution 2231, and it was Europe that subsequently chose to align with unlawful sanctions instead of honoring its own commitments. These undeniable facts must frame any serious discussion at the Security Council.

We have also reaffirmed a fundamental principle of international law: rights and obligations cannot be separated. States that fail to fulfill their own commitments cannot claim the benefits of an agreement they have undermined. The credibility of multilateral diplomacy depends on this logic. What is at stake is not only Iran’s rights but the integrity of international agreements themselves. If selective compliance and procedural abuse are tolerated, the very foundation of collective security will be fatally weakened.

The primary function of the Security Council is to act on behalf of the international community to maintain peace and security. What the E3 proposes betrays this mission, turning the Council into an instrument of coercion rather than a guardian of global stability. The urgent task before us is to restore international law and build upon it to give diplomacy the ground it needs to succeed.

[Jean-Loup Samaan @JeanLoupSamaan]

Excited to share my latest comment, and the first one for the Interpreter at the @LowyInstitute on India's Prime Minister's China trip and why this is more than just a consequence of Modi-Trump tensions:

[Jordyn Haime @jordynhaime]

Taiwan will likely be the first government to make a direct financial contribution to an Israeli settlement, experts said. The Israeli right is seeing it as an endorsement of Israel's illegal occupation of the West Bank. My story for @SCMPNews https://t.co/F8uAJpqGuJ

[Ben Zhao Ziwen | 赵子文 @benziwenzhao]

@CGTNEurope source?

[South China Morning Post @SCMPNews]

CCTV stunned into silence with LGBTQ scene at Paris Olympics opening ceremony
https://t.co/tGAa1G5KgH

[South China Morning Post @SCMPNews]

Palestinian factions agree to end division in pact brokered by China https://t.co/2FWcd2kHxU

[South China Morning Post @SCMPNews]

Harris tipped to keep Biden’s foreign policy team in place – at least at first
https://t.co/dpKowRAtza

[Ben Zhao Ziwen | 赵子文 @benziwenzhao]

My analysis of what #China and #SaudiArabia's #defense heads might have talked about at the rare high-level meeting last month in Beijing. contribute by @JesCMarks

https://t.co/5FhpYfNU43

[Ben Zhao Ziwen | 赵子文 @benziwenzhao]

Iran’s incoming reformist president was not likely to fundamentally change the Islamic Republic’s foreign policy towards China, observers said, citing his limited powers and Tehran’s economic and geopolitical dependence on Beijing.

https://t.co/ngV4w2ZxJ8

[Ben Zhao Ziwen | 赵子文 @benziwenzhao]

Talked with Finnish foreign trade chief Ville Tavio in Doha about China-EU and China-Russia relations amid Putin's high-profile visit to Xi Jinping.

https://t.co/WfnPDYhuWM

[Ben Zhao Ziwen | 赵子文 @benziwenzhao]

China's Fujian aircraft carrier finished her first eight-day sail yesterday. We may see the test of her cutting-edge electromagnetic catapult system at the end of this year.

https://t.co/v3SPoVB8hU

#china #thefujian #chinamilitary #military

[Ben Zhao Ziwen | 赵子文 @benziwenzhao]

Mr. Secretary, I can't find a better way to describe "overcapacity" than releasing two albums with 50 songs within a year. @SecBlinken

[Secretary Antony Blinken @SecBlinken]

As I wrapped my trip to China, found a few minutes to visit a record store, talk music, and pick up a few LPs (Chinese rock and Taylor Swift).

It's what I love most about music — the way it lets you connect with people and cultures wherever you go.

[South China Morning Post @SCMPNews]

The Netflix series 3 Body Problem has gained millions of viewers since its debut on March 21, 2024. But many Chinese viewers say the show strays too far from the book that inspired it.

[Ben Zhao Ziwen | 赵子文 @benziwenzhao]

Beijing issued a statement yesterday pledging to crack down on school bullying. This measure came after a 13-year-old boy was murdered and buried by three of his classmates earlier this year - all the suspects are under 14.

https://t.co/OkaOD04Lio

[Al Jazeera English @AJEnglish]

A Beijing-based diplomat has told the Reuters news agency that China will host Palestinian unity talks between Hamas and its rival Fatah.

🔴 LIVE updates ⤵️ https://t.co/jn4z8c50rT

[Ben Zhao Ziwen | 赵子文 @benziwenzhao]

Hi everyone! I will be in Doha from May 13- 18, open to coffee if you have any insight in Middle East-China diplomacy! Please let me know! #middleeast #doha #palestine #gaza #israel #china #diplomacy #hongkong

[Ben Zhao Ziwen | 赵子文 @benziwenzhao]

In a surprising move, Hamas and Fatah have talked in Beijing but without China's confirmation. But a clue is that a Qatar diplomat also visited Beijing today. According to the diplomacy protocol, Doha should be around Hamas as a mediator.

https://t.co/pbgW9CGIiL

[Secretary Antony Blinken @SecBlinken]

I’m in China to make progress on issues that matter most to the American people, including curbing fentanyl trafficking. We will discuss work underway to fulfill commitments made by @POTUS and President Xi last fall, as well as the areas where we have significant disagreements.