International Council of the United Nations votes to reinstate economic restrictions on Iran's nuclear program
The United Nations Security Council has voted to reimpose economic sanctions on Iran due to its resurgent nuclear program. The decision, initiated by Britain, France, and Germany, comes after years of attempts to revive the 2015 nuclear deal and follows a series of escalating tensions between Iran and Western powers.
The vote was held despite Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi's proposal of a 'fair and balanced' plan to prevent the return of sanctions. The European Three (Britain, France, and Germany) accused Iran of breaching several commitments under the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), including building up a uranium stock more than 40 times the level permitted under the deal.
Iran's ambassador to the UN called the vote 'unlawful' and stated that Iran recognizes no obligation to implement it. In response, Iran late Thursday withdrew a draft resolution at the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) that aimed to ban attacks against nuclear facilities, citing US pressure.
The 2015 nuclear deal has been significantly damaged since the United States withdrew from it in 2018 and reimposed sanctions on Iran. After the US withdrawal, Iran has gradually disregarded its commitments under the agreement and increased its nuclear activities.
Tensions have been high between Iran and Israel since the 12-day war between the two countries in June 2021. The war derailed nuclear negotiations between Iran and the United States and led to Iran suspending cooperation with the IAEA.
The vote for sanctions reinstatement comes amidst threats from Iran to withdraw from the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) if the snapback is triggered. The snapback mechanism under UN Security Council Resolution 2231 was initiated by Germany, France, and the United Kingdom on August 28, 2025, starting a 30-day period after which previous sanctions will be automatically reinstated if no new resolution is passed.
The reimposition of sanctions is a significant development in the ongoing standoff between Iran and the West. Iran has been accused by Western powers and Israel of seeking nuclear weapons, a claim that Iran denies. The future of the nuclear deal and the broader geopolitical landscape in the Middle East remain uncertain as both sides dig in their heels.
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