Abbas Araghchi, the foreign minister of Iran’s regime, stressed that activating the snapback sanctions would have heavy costs but “is not the end of everything.” He added that Tehran cannot completely cut off cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
In a video interview with the state-run IRNA news agency, parts of which were published on Wednesday, August 20, Araghchi emphasized: “The activation of the snapback will not be economically more impactful than the current situation.” He added: “For years we have been in talks with China and Russia on what solutions might ultimately prevent snapback and have considered certain measures, though we may not succeed.”
The Snapback Mechanism Increases Likelihood of Global Consensus Against Iran’s Regime
Araghchi described the consequences of snapback as “truly serious and heavy,” adding: “We must try to prevent it, but at the same time, we should not exaggerate it.”
In response to a question about the return of IAEA inspectors to Iran, Araghchi said they must be present for cooperation with the agency to continue.
On August 18, Esmail Baqaei, spokesperson for the regime’s Foreign Ministry, said Tehran’s interactions with the IAEA have “changed after recent events,” but the relationship remains direct.
He also mentioned the possibility of holding another round of talks with the agency in the coming days.
Earlier, Badr Abdelatty, Egypt’s Foreign Ministry, reported mediation efforts to resume cooperation between Iran’s regime and the IAEA after the suspension of activities by inspectors. Tehran denied that such contacts aimed at reducing tensions and maintaining regional stability had taken place.
According to an official statement from Egypt’s Foreign Ministry, Egyptian foreign minister Abdelatty held separate talks with Araghchi and IAEA director-general Rafael Grossi on August 12.
Cairo said the goal of these contacts was to strengthen mutual trust and create favorable conditions for security and stability in the region.
These contacts took place after Tehran announced it was suspending cooperation with the IAEA following the 12-day war with Israel.
On July 12, Araghchi said that no agreement with the United States would be possible without recognition of Iran’s “right to enrichment,” stressing that cooperation with the IAEA had become conditional and taken on a “new form.”
Emphasis on the inevitability of war
The regime’s foreign minister, in another part of his remarks about the 12-day war with Israel, said: “Sometimes war is inevitable.”
He added: “Negotiation and diplomacy are less costly and less risky paths, but sometimes their costs are greater than war itself.”
Some regime officials have recently warned of the possibility of another war with Israel.
In one of the most recent examples, Yahya Rahim Safavi, senior advisor to regime supreme leader Ali Khamenei, said on August 17 that another war between the regime and Israel was likely, but “after that, there may be no more wars.”
He added regarding the current situation after the 12-day war between the regime and Israel: “We are not in a ceasefire; we are in a state of war, and no protocol, regulation, or agreement has been written between us and the United States and Israel.”
On the same day, Mehdi Tabatabaei, deputy information officer for regime president Masoud Pezeshkian, said that Iran’s regime remains unstable and under threat, both during the period of maximum sanctions and now, around 50 days after the war with Israel.
Nevertheless, on August 14, Araghchi said that as an international relations expert with 40 years of experience, he does not believe war is imminent, but: “Officials, the armed forces, and the government should not rely on my words.”
He added: “We must be cautious about the atmosphere being created for war. We must not allow public opinion to be kept in constant anxiety and worry. Before the 12-day war, due to regional and international conditions, I had the feeling that war could be imminent, but I no longer feel that way.”
In his interview with IRNA about talks with the United States, Araghchi said: “We have not yet reached the maturity point of negotiations in the sense of effective talks with America.”
Before the 12-day war, five rounds of nuclear talks were held between Tehran and Washington, but with regime officials insisting on continuing uranium enrichment on Iranian soil, the negotiations reached a deadlock.
