Iran has sharply criticized a European effort to reinstate United Nations sanctions by the end of September, calling the move a “biased and politically motivated” abuse of power.

The dispute centers on the 2015 nuclear deal, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA). The agreement includes a “snapback” mechanism that allows any signatory to restore all pre-2015 UN sanctions on Iran if it is found to be in violation of its commitments.

On Friday, Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Saeed Khatibzadeh denounced the initiative by Britain, France, and Germany—collectively known as the E3. Speaking in Geneva, he accused the European powers of misusing this mechanism for political reasons.

The E3 triggered the snapback process in late August, citing Tehran’s repeated refusal to grant the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) access to its nuclear sites. The move began a 30-day countdown that could see a wide array of UN sanctions automatically reimposed on September 20th.

French President Emmanuel Macron confirmed the timeline on Thursday, stating that sanctions would be reinstated unless Iran makes “serious concessions.” The European powers have offered a compromise: a six-month delay of the sanctions snapback if Iran agrees to three conditions:

Restore full and unlimited access for international inspectors to its nuclear sites.
Disclose its current stockpile of enriched uranium.

Resume direct negotiations with the United States on reviving the nuclear deal.
In response, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi took to social media platform X to state that he had presented the E3 with a “reasonable and actionable plan to avert an unnecessary crisis.” He expressed frustration, claiming the European response was filled with “excuses and deflection.”