UN Reimposes Sanctions on Iran as Nuclear Dispute Escalates 

The United Nations reimposed sanctions on Iran over the weekend in a move that deepened the standoff with Western powers, immediately rattled Iran’s economy, and revived threats of further confrontation in the region, the Financial Times reported. 

The sanctions automatically took effect after a Saturday night deadline expired, with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio saying they were restored because Iran failed to meet its nuclear commitments.  

The sanctions include a conventional arms embargo, restrictions on ballistic missile-related activities, a ban on uranium enrichment and reprocessing, a global asset freeze, and travel bans on Iranian individuals and entities.  

The move comes a month after the United Kingdom, France, and Germany – known as the E3 – triggered a “snapback” process over Iran’s nuclear program. The three European powers accused the country of failing to fulfill commitments to a 2015 deal that would give Iran sanction relief in return for accepting strict limits on its nuclear activity. 

At the time, the E3 gave Tehran 30 days to resume unconditional negotiations with the United States, grant International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) inspectors access to nuclear sites, and account for its stockpile of uranium enriched close to weapons grade. 

On Sunday, the three nations said in a joint statement that “the reimposition of UN sanctions is not the end of diplomacy” but warned Tehran to “refrain from any escalatory action,” according to Radio Free Europe/ Radio Liberty. 

However, Iranian officials blasted the sanctions as “illegal” and “null and void.” Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi accused Western powers of “bullying” and claimed the failure of dialogue was deliberate by Western nations.  

Iranian President Masud Pezeshkian said the United States had demanded Iran hand over all enriched uranium in exchange for a three-month sanctions exemption, which he called “absolutely unacceptable.” He added that mistrust of Washington remained “quite high.” 

Tensions over Iran’s nuclear program have been high since the first Trump administration in 2018 withdrew from the 2015 agreement and reimposed sanctions on Tehran. The Islamic Republic responded by expanding its nuclear program and increasing its stockpile of uranium enriched to 60 percent purity – close to weapons grade. 

Tehran and Washington were engaged in indirect talks to resolve the crisis, but they collapsed after Israel launched a series of strikes on Iran in June. The US later joined Israel in bombing Iran’s nuclear sites, which further deteriorated relations and chances of talks. 

Despite European powers expressing openness to talks, Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei recently reiterated that negotiating with the Trump administration under current conditions would amount to “surrender” and “disgrace.”  

Iranian military officials also warned they were prepared to respond if Israel used the UN measures as a pretext for further military action. 

Meanwhile, Iranian authorities attempted to downplay the effects of the sanctions, but analysts cautioned that they would have a major impact on the country’s economy, including weakening its currency and raising prices for food supplies and other staples.