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As the specter of the UN Security Council’s snapback mechanism grows closer, the Iranian regime is displaying increasing desperation, using aggressive rhetoric and threats to mask its fear of impending international action. Officials and regime mouthpieces have made a flurry of statements, revealing both their anxiety and a recognition of their weakened position in any negotiations with the West.
Mohammad Eslami, head of the regime’s Atomic Energy Organization, acknowledged on a state TV interview on November 27 that Iran has initiated gas injection into thousands of advanced centrifuges in response to the International Atomic Energy Agency’s (IAEA) resolution. “This is part of our nuclear development program. Iran has always shown a willingness to cooperate, but it will never retreat in the face of force and illegal actions,” Eslami said. Attempting to downplay the IAEA’s findings, he dismissed the discovery of undeclared nuclear materials as “old accusations” fabricated by the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI) to justify pressure on Tehran.
Eslami’s defensive remarks are emblematic of the regime’s larger struggle. While officials loudly proclaim their defiance, their actions and internal commentary expose deep concern over the possibility of UN sanctions being reinstated through the snapback mechanism under Resolution 2231.
#Iran’s Regime Gripped by Fear Over Potential Activation of #UNSC Snapback Mechanismhttps://t.co/ZQmuuxPniw
— NCRI-FAC (@iran_policy) November 24, 2024
High-ranking officials in Iran’s parliament have echoed this unease. A member of the presidium, Mojtaba Yusefi, suggested a potential shift in Iran’s nuclear doctrine. “If Europe fails to meet its obligations, we will increase our uranium stockpile beyond current levels. While our Leader has stated that nuclear weapons are not part of our doctrine, continued hostility from Israel and the UN will force us to reassess our policies,” he warned.
Similarly, Ebrahim Rezaee, spokesman for the parliament’s security and foreign policy commission, declared, “We should respond to the IAEA resolution with strength, including considering withdrawal from the NPT [Non-Proliferation Treaty]. If necessary, we can enrich uranium to 90% or beyond.”
This rhetoric underscores the regime’s strategy of nuclear extortion, attempting to dissuade Western powers from activating the snapback mechanism. Fereydoon Abbasi, former head of Iran’s Atomic Energy Organization, bluntly stated, “We must pursue higher enrichment levels. Negotiations should not lead us to abandon our national capabilities.”
Despite these threats, some of the regime’s own media have criticized ongoing negotiations with Europe as a sign of weakness. The state-affiliated Kayhan newspaper warned that the current talks risk “submitting to the enemy,” claiming reformist politicians are enabling “humiliating negotiations.” In an article published on November 25, Kayhan questioned, “What will they sacrifice this time in these negotiations?” This admission reflects Tehran’s growing fear that its position in any dialogue is fundamentally compromised.
#Iran News:
Officials Call for Higher Enrichment, #NPT Exit, and Even Nuclear Bomb Developmenthttps://t.co/NbqapEaqWc— NCRI-FAC (@iran_policy) November 25, 2024
Masoud Barati, a regime-linked analyst, further highlighted Tehran’s precarious stance. “Given the hostile actions of Europe, including sanctions and anti-Iran resolutions, entering negotiations from this position of weakness raises serious doubts about the outcome,” he warned on November 24.
The state-affiliated Jahan News website published an article titled “Rushing to the Negotiation Table One Week After the Resolution Against Iran!” in which it criticized ongoing talks with Europe. The article accused pro-Western elements of “having no qualms about weakening the government and the Foreign Ministry against the West, just as they drove Rouhani’s administration into a position of weakness during negotiations.” It argued that “the government and Foreign Ministry, representing the Iranian nation, should be demanding restitution for Iran’s violated rights in the agreement, not acting as if they owe something.”
While the regime postures aggressively, these admissions reveal a state acutely aware of its vulnerability. The looming snapback mechanism threatens to reinstate comprehensive UN sanctions, a move that could cripple Tehran’s already fragile economy and exacerbate internal unrest. In this context, Tehran’s threats of escalation and nuclear advancements are less a show of strength and more a desperate attempt to intimidate and delay.
As the international community evaluates its response, it must recognize Tehran’s strategy for what it is: nuclear blackmail designed to forestall decisive action. The only effective response is to resist these threats and reinstate the full spectrum of sanctions under the snapback mechanism. Tehran’s harsh rhetoric cannot obscure the reality of its weakness, as its own officials and media inadvertently reveal.
