A decade after the landmark 2015 nuclear deal lifted international sanctions on Iran, the United Nations has slapped sweeping economic and military sanctions on Tehran for recurring violations and refusal to cooperate with international inspectors.
The move came after Britain, France, and Germany — the E3 — activated the “snapback” mechanism, accusing Iran of “ongoing nuclear escalation” and breaking the terms of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA). The UNSC imposed sanctions on september 19 and extended them on september 26.
What the sanctions mean
The reimposed sanctions restore six earlier Security Council resolutions — 1696, 1737, 1747, 1803, 1835, and 1929 — with severe sanctions:
- Reimposition of an arms embargo, banning the sale of conventional weapons to and from Iran.
- Illicit uranium enrichment, heavy water, and reprocessing activities.
- Iranian ballistic missile program and technology ban.
- Travel and global asset freezes on dozens of Iranian officials and entities.
- Authorization to nations around the world to seize weapons and contraband cargo of Iran.
The sanctions also block Iran from engaging in international nuclear-related commerce, putting even more pressure on its already struggling economy.
How we got here
The 2015 JCPOA between Iran and global powers was far-reaching, with the aim of capping Iran’s nuclear activities in exchange for sanctions. It was greeted then as a diplomatic victory, restricting uranium stockpiles and inspection by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
https://www.cfr.org/backgrounder/what-iran-nuclear-deal
But tensions had risen further after the US, then led by President Donald Trump, unilaterally pulled out of the agreement in 2018 and reinstated sanctions. In June this year, joint US and Israeli air strikes targeted Iran’s nuclear facilities and military bases, with Tehran responding by temporarily suspending IAEA inspections — a blatant breach of the deal.
European ambassadors explain how repeated efforts at negotiating with Iran failed. In last week’s UNGA, E3-Iranian government-to-government negotiations collapsed over disagreement. “We had no choice but to invoke snapback,” said the UK, French, and German foreign ministers jointly, adding: “This is not the end of diplomacy, but Iran has systematically breached its obligations.”
Iran’s response
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian dismissed the sanctions as “unfair, unjust, and illegal,” reaffirming that Tehran has no intentions to develop nuclear weapons. Iranian President stated, that he needs international guarantees to halt further attacks on Iran’s installations for him to consider returning to compliance.
Iran’s Foreign Affairs Minister Abbas Araqchi held the E3 responsible for ignoring Iran’s proposal to keep diplomacy going. Tehran as a diplomatic move recalled its ambassadors in London, Paris and Berlin for consultations.
Although Pezeshkian tempered previous threats of withdrawal from the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), Iran warned that sanctions would push negotiations “into jeopardy.” The foreign ministry cautioned that “any action against undermining the rights and interests of its people will be met with a firm and proper response.”
Global reactions
The United States welcomed the sanctions, describing them as a sign of “decisive global leadership.” Trump said, “Diplomacy is still on the table, and a deal is still the best for the Iranian people and the world. But Tehran will have to open up to direct talks, in good faith, without stalling or prevarication.”
Israel received the reinstated sanctions as a “giant step” to stopping Iran from developing nuclear capacity. Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov denounced the snapback as “illegal” and called for the UN Secretary-General not to approve it.
The IAEA verified that limited inspections of Iranian sites resumed since then, but are concerned about Iran’s stock of highly enriched uranium.
Why it matters
The imposition of UN sanctions is a stark turnaround for the ten-year nuclear agreement and may further destabilise the Middle East. Iran’s economy is already strained by US sanctions, so the new international restrictions may accelerate its isolation and fuel regional tensions, especially in the wake of the June bombings.
Until now, the E3 stressed that communication channels are open. “The reimposition of UN sanctions is not the end of diplomacy,” their statement said — but as both hardened their positions, prospects for a new agreement seem increasingly distant.
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