In a tense standoff that has the world watching, Iran has issued its starkest warning yet: if United Nations sanctions are reimposed through the so-called 'snapback' mechanism, the country will terminate all cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and halt participation in international weapons inspections. Ali Larijani, Secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council and the chief nuclear negotiator, delivered this message in a high-profile interview with PBS’s FRONTLINE on September 22, 2025—a move that has sent ripples through diplomatic circles from Washington to Vienna.
"If 'snapback' mechanisms are enforced, we will end our participation with the IAEA," Larijani stated, according to PBS and The Washington Post. This blunt declaration comes as a 30-day countdown to the possible restoration of UN sanctions ticks down, with the deadline set to expire by the end of September. The trigger? The European signatories to the 2015 nuclear deal—Britain, France, and Germany—initiated the process in August, citing what they claim are Iranian violations of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA). Iran, however, flatly rejects the legitimacy of this move, arguing that the United States unilaterally withdrew from the deal years ago and the Europeans have failed to meet their own obligations.
The United Nations Security Council is scheduled to convene on September 26 to vote on a resolution, put forward by Russia and China, that would postpone the reimposition of sanctions. Should the council fail to pass the resolution, the snapback sanctions would automatically be triggered on September 27. The diplomatic stakes could hardly be higher.
The situation is further complicated by the aftermath of a series of U.S. and Israeli strikes in June 2025, which targeted three Iranian nuclear facilities. Iran has condemned these attacks as violations of international law and the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT). The strikes, Larijani said, have turned the negotiating process into a "farce." In his words: "We have pursued every option and mechanism available for solving this conflict in a peaceful way." Yet, the sense of frustration is palpable. Larijani made clear that Iran’s patience is wearing thin, and the nation's willingness to engage with international oversight is not limitless.
Despite the heightened rhetoric, Iran’s senior security official was adamant that the country has no intention of developing nuclear weapons—now or in the future. "We are determined not to pursue a nuclear weapon," he said, reiterating a position the Islamic Republic has maintained for years. Still, the specter of conflict looms large. Larijani warned U.S. President Donald Trump that Iran will never surrender if new attacks occur, and he urged American leaders to act with justice and morals, echoing the values they espouse for themselves.
Larijani’s interview with FRONTLINE marked his first with foreign media since being appointed chief negotiator by Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, following a bloody 12-day war with the U.S. and Israel earlier this year. The PBS team, while not permitted to visit the bombed nuclear facilities, was allowed to tour other sites hit during the conflict, including locations where Iranian scientists were assassinated and non-nuclear infrastructure was damaged. These visits, documented in an upcoming FRONTLINE and The Washington Post collaboration, paint a picture of a nation grappling with the consequences of shadow warfare and international isolation.
When pressed about the extent of the damage to Iran’s nuclear program from the June strikes, Larijani was circumspect. "I do not have any specific information to share about the extent of the damage or how much the strikes have set back Iran’s nuclear program," he told PBS. But he was quick to add a note of defiance: "In my opinion, Iran’s nuclear program can never be destroyed. Because once you have discovered a technology, they can’t take the discovery away. It’s as if you are the inventor of a certain machine, and the machine is stolen from you. You can still make it again."
Recent reporting by The Washington Post has also highlighted increased activity at a mysterious underground site south of Natanz, known as Pickaxe Mountain. When asked about the site and whether the strikes had spurred new developments there, Larijani offered little detail: "No, nothing. We haven’t abandoned any of those locations. But in the future they could possibly continue to run as they currently do or be shut down." The ambiguity only adds to international concern about what Iran’s next move might be if the diplomatic standoff escalates further.
Notably, on September 9, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi reached a tentative agreement in Cairo on practical steps to resume cooperation. This diplomatic lifeline came after the Iranian Parliament unanimously passed legislation requiring the government to suspend all IAEA cooperation if further aggression occurred—a clear response to the June strikes. The legislation reflects a hardening of attitudes within Iran’s political establishment, as patience with Western powers appears to be running out.
Larijani’s remarks also touched on broader philosophical and ethical themes. He called on the United States to recognize Iran’s right to the same human rights and dignity that Americans claim for themselves. "The American people did not wish to elect people who will send their soldiers to the grave. They should act properly, and desire for others what they want for themselves," he said. Larijani warned that continued U.S. aggression and what he described as unjust policies could push the world toward chaos, with consequences that would reverberate far beyond the Middle East.
For their part, the European powers find themselves in a bind. While eager to preserve the JCPOA and avoid a nuclear arms race in the region, they are under pressure from Washington to take a harder line on Iran. The snapback mechanism—originally designed as a last-resort safeguard against Iranian violations—has now become a flashpoint that could unravel what remains of the 2015 nuclear agreement. Russia and China, meanwhile, have positioned themselves as defenders of diplomacy, seeking to delay new sanctions and keep Iran engaged with international monitoring efforts.
For ordinary Iranians, the stakes are painfully real. Sanctions have crippled the economy, stoked inflation, and made everyday life a struggle for millions. The threat of renewed international isolation—and the potential for military escalation—hangs over the country like a dark cloud. Yet, as Larijani’s comments make clear, Iran’s leadership is determined to resist what it sees as unjust pressure, even if it means cutting ties with the very institutions meant to prevent nuclear proliferation.
As the world awaits the outcome of the Security Council vote and the looming deadline for snapback sanctions, the possibility of a new chapter in the long-running nuclear standoff is all too real. Whether diplomacy can prevail over confrontation remains to be seen, but for now, Iran’s message is unmistakable: respect, reciprocity, and justice—or the door to international oversight will slam shut.