United Nations sanctions on Iran will be reimposed on Saturday after a Russian and Chinese effort to delay their return was defeated at the Security Council, setting the stage for renewed confrontation between Tehran and Western powers.
The sanctions, due to take effect at 8 p.m. EDT (0000 GMT Sunday), will restore sweeping restrictions including an arms embargo, a ban on uranium enrichment and reprocessing, curbs on ballistic missile activity, global asset freezes, travel bans, and measures targeting Iran’s energy sector.
The decision follows a 30-day snapback process triggered by Britain, France, and Germany, known as the E3, accusing Tehran of violating the 2015 nuclear accord.
Only four of the Council’s 15 members backed Moscow and Beijing’s draft resolution for a six-month delay. Nine countries voted against, while two abstained. “This council fulfilled the necessary steps of the snapback process set out in Resolution 2231, therefore U.N. sanctions targeting Iranian proliferation will be reimposed this weekend,” said Britain’s envoy, Barbara Wood.
Iran, which denies seeking nuclear weapons, warned that the move would heighten tensions. President Masoud Pezeshkian told reporters Iran had no plans to leave the Non-Proliferation Treaty. “Iran will never seek nuclear weapons … We are fully prepared to be transparent about our highly enriched uranium,” he said. Still, Tehran recalled its ambassadors from Germany, France, and the UK for consultations, calling the European decision “irresponsible.”
Iran’s envoy Abbas Araqchi condemned the West, saying: “The U.S. has betrayed diplomacy, but it is the E3 which have buried it. The snapback is legally void, politically reckless, and procedurally flawed.” Washington and its European allies countered that Iran failed to restore U.N. inspectors’ access or curb its growing enriched uranium stockpile, leaving no option but to restore sanctions.
The United States stressed that diplomacy remained possible, while France insisted sanctions did not mark the “end of diplomacy.” Russia, however, accused Western powers of closing the door on negotiations.
The return of sanctions comes as Iran’s economy reels from years of crippling U.S. restrictions reimposed after former President Donald Trump abandoned the nuclear deal in 2018. The revived U.N. penalties are expected to deepen Tehran’s isolation.
Addressing the U.N. General Assembly, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, whose country joined the U.S. in bombing Iranian nuclear sites in June, urged vigilance. “We must not allow Iran to rebuild its military nuclear capacities.
These stockpiles must be eliminated, and tomorrow U.N. Security Council sanctions on Iran must be snapped back,” he said.
Source: Reuters
Written By Rodney Mbua
