The G7 grouping of wealthy democracies plus the European Union on Wednesday blamed Iran for newly-imposed international sanctions and urged Tehran to resume talks with Washington and allow inspections of its nuclear sites.
Meanwhile, Russia, itself heavily sanctioned by the West announced it would flout the new UN sanctions it unsuccessfully opposed at the UN Security Council last week.
“The E3 and the United States have repeatedly offered diplomatic avenues in good faith to Iran to avoid the snapback and reach a durable and comprehensive negotiated resolution,” the G7 said in a joint statement.
It was signed by the foreign ministers of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the United States, along with the EU High Representative.
'Diplomacy essential'
The statement referred to the European troika of Britain, Germany and France which invoked the return of UN sanctions citing what they called Iran’s lack of transparency on its nuclear program.
“Diplomacy remains essential now that the UNSC process has led to the reimposition of sanctions. We call on Iran to refrain from any escalatory action, immediately engage in direct talks with the United States, and make demonstrable progress toward fully meeting its nuclear non-proliferation obligations,” the ministers said.
They urged Iran to fully cooperate with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) without delay, including by implementing its Comprehensive Safeguards Agreement under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT).
“This includes allowing IAEA inspections to resume in all nuclear facilities and accounting for all nuclear material it holds,” the statement said.
Iran denies seeking a nuclear weapon and has called the sanctions a violation of international law and its sovereignty.
Russia set to defy sanctions
Russia announced on Wednesday it will not recognize or implement the reinstated UN sanctions on Iran.
“We’ll be living in two parallel realities, because for some snapback happened, for us it didn’t,” Moscow’s UN envoy Vassily Nebenzia told reporters.
Russia’s UN envoy also claimed the move could serve as a pretext for another round of military strikes on Iran, referencing the 12-day war during which Israel and the United States targeted major nuclear sites.
“This development is fraught with the risk of major escalation around Iran, because it opens the door for those countries who want to finish off Iran’s nuclear program,” Nebenzia added.
Iran, as a signatory to the NPT, is obligated to host IAEA inspections of its nuclear facilities.
Tehran has warned the return of UN sanctions threatens its collaboration with the IAEA, and the diplomatic impasse over Iran's disputed nuclear program appears to have no end in sight.
The legislation, formally titled the “Intensification of Punishment for Espionage and Cooperation with the Zionist Regime and Hostile States Against National Security and Interests,” was passed by parliament in late June following the 12-day war between Iran and Israel.
The Guardian Council, a powerful 12-member body of clerics and jurists that vets legislation and elections in Iran, initially sent the bill back in July citing ambiguities, but said after revisions it no longer conflicted with Islamic law or the constitution.
The measure classifies espionage or intelligence cooperation with Israel and the US as “corruption on earth,” a charge under Iran’s penal code that can carry the death penalty.
It also criminalizes providing information, media content or assistance to groups deemed hostile, with prison sentences ranging from two to 15 years depending on the offense.
Supporters say the law is needed to counter infiltration and disinformation. “Any cooperation in media or propaganda activity, including sending videos or images to hostile channels that weaken public morale or create division, undermines national security and will face severe judicial response,” said Ebrahim Azizi, a former Revolutionary Guards commander and head of parliament’s national security committee.
The bill follows the June conflict in which Israeli airstrikes targeted Iranian nuclear and missile sites, prompting Tehran to retaliate with hundreds of missile and drone launches.
Iranian authorities later announced the arrest of hundreds of people accused of spying for Israel and the US.
Rights advocates have expressed concern that the law’s broad definitions, including provisions applying retroactively, could restrict free expression and be used against journalists and activists.