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Tehran says snapback is 'illegal and unjustified'? Kallas insists reimposed sanctions are 'decision of E3'

Tehran says snapback is 'illegal and unjustified'? Kallas insists reimposed sanctions are 'decision of E3'

"EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas said 'snapback' sanctions on Iran were up to the E3 - after Iran and others suggested the group had no legal authority to impose them - as the bloc's defence ministers arrived for talks in Copenhagen on Friday. Asked about the Iranian view that the move was 'illegal and unjustified', she replied: "This is their claim all the time, but if you read the JCPOA and the conditions that are there, then Iran hasn’t met those conditions for quite some time. So it is the decision of E3, and, of course, now we have these 30 days to sort things out and maybe have a different solution." Earlier, Russia's Deputy Permanent Representative to the UN Dmitry Polyansky said the decision by UK, France and Germany (the 'E3') to impose the 'snapback' sanctions on Iran over its nuclear programme had 'absolutely no legal bearing'. Tehran has said that the three nations have 'no legal jurisdiction' and said that it was prepared for 'fair and balanced talks' if the E3 showed 'seriousness and goodwill'. The E3 group has been in talks with Tehran over recent months. 'Snapback' means the return to those UN sanctions on Iran which were lifted under the 2015 deal, in return for the country limiting its nuclear programme. Donald Trump's first administration withdrew from the deal in 2018, and the current US government has not been involved in talks since the Israel-Iran conflict in June.  Meanwhile, Danish Defence Minister Troels Lund Poulsen accused Vladimir Putin of 'mocking' peace efforts following reported strikes on Kiev, and maintained the line that the 'European delegation was hit'. "When it comes to security guarantees [for Ukraine in event of peace deal] of course we are talking about the day after, but as I said, it’s not close if you look at what Putin is doing," added Kallas. On Thursday, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said she was "outraged by attack on Kiev, also hitting our EU offices". However, Katarina Mathernova, EU ambassador to Ukraine said that "a precision strike destroyed a building adjacent to the European Union Delegation. Its blast wave severely damaged our building and also a residential tower where many colleagues live." Russia's Defence Ministry reported that strikes had hit Ukrainian "military-industrial complex enterprises and military air bases". The informal meeting of defence ministers is held under the Danish Presidency of the Council of the EU, from 28-29 August."

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