Beirut – Does the unified Iranian-Russian-Chinese stance affirming the expiration of UN Resolution 2231 pose a challenge to Western efforts to revive the “snapback mechanism,” signal a shift in international relations, and herald the emergence of a multipolar world order?

WILL DISABLING THE “TRIGGER MECHANISM” LIMIT UNIPOLAR HEGEMONY AND HASTEN THE BIRTH OF MULTIPOLARITY?

BY Hassan Hardan

This unified decision represents a significant development, as it marks the first time Tehran, Moscow, and Beijing have each sent separate letters—one to UN Secretary-General António Guterres and the Security Council, and the other to Rafael Grossi, Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency—rejecting the legitimacy of any Western sanctions against Iran and insisting on keeping its nuclear file on the IAEA’s agenda.

What are the implications of this position receiving the support of 120 countries within the Non-Aligned Movement? Is it merely a passing diplomatic disagreement, or does it signal a qualitative shift in the confrontation by countries rejecting Western-American unilateralism? This signifies a powerful and influential force, as these countries have decided to challenge the hegemony of the unipolar international system and question its credibility.

First, the implications of the unified Russian-Chinese-Iranian resolution…

This development is of paramount importance and transcends a mere passing diplomatic disagreement, as it points to several implications:

First, a challenge to Western unilateralism: The tripartite stance reflects a qualitative shift in the confrontation by countries that reject American and Western unilateralism. It indicates a powerful and influential force that has decided to challenge the hegemony of the unipolar international system and question its credibility.

Second, an indication of the strengthening trend towards the emergence of a multipolar international system: The strategic coordination and joint messages sent for the first time clearly to the UN Secretary-General, the Security Council, and the International Atomic Energy Agency, emphasizing a shared legal interpretation of the resolution, are a strong indicator of a strategic bloc that is reinforcing the emergence of a multipolar international system. This bloc is using legal and diplomatic tools within international institutions to undermine Western unilateralism.

Third, the creation of a dual legal reality: Observers believe that this division between Eastern and Western powers over Resolution 2231 creates a dual legal reality, which undermines the authority of the Security Council and the rules of the existing international order.

Fourth, broad international support: The backing of this position by more than 120 countries within the Non-Aligned Movement grants it broad international legitimacy that transcends the three parties involved, reflecting a growing international rejection of the use of unilateral or illegal sanctions to resolve disputes. This support strengthens the common position and reinforces the idea of ​​multipolarity.

Second, a strong challenge to the “snapback mechanism”…

The mechanism known as the “snapback mechanism” allows the countries participating in the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) nuclear agreement to reimpose UN sanctions on Iran if it violates the agreement.

However, the unified Russian-Chinese-Iranian stance against activating the mechanism has created a legal dispute with Western countries (the European troika: France, Germany, and Britain), which are seeking to activate this mechanism under the pretext of Iran’s violation of the agreement. Iran, Russia, and China maintain that attempts to activate the mechanism are legally and procedurally invalid for several reasons, most importantly that the provisions of Resolution 2231 related to restrictions expired under paragraph 8 of the same resolution, and that countries that have failed to fulfill their obligations (such as the US by withdrawing and the Europeans by not implementing their commitments) are not entitled to use the mechanism.

This unified position poses a significant political and legal obstacle for Western countries, as Russia and China, as permanent members of the Security Council, will not abide by any sanctions reinstated in this manner. This means that the mechanism will lose its effectiveness and its decisions will become non-binding internationally, except for Western countries and their allies.

In short, this move is not just a diplomatic dispute, but a clear expression of the formation of an axis of power that seeks to redefine international rules and balances of power, and uses the legal dispute over Resolution 2231 as a battleground to prove the limitations of Western hegemony and the beginning of a new phase of multipolarity, putting an end to American and Western hegemony over international decision-making and the arbitrariness in the application of international resolutions.

https://www.theinteldrop.org/2025/11/01/will-disabling-the-trigger-mechanism-limit-unipolar-hegemony-and-hasten-the-birth-of-multipolarity/

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