The United Nations Security Council has voted to reinstate sanctions on Iran, marking a significant shift in international efforts to curb the country’s nuclear program. The decision followed the rejection of a resolution aimed at granting Iran additional relief from sanctions, which had been lifted under the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), also known as the Iran nuclear deal. The draft resolution, supported by Russia and China, sought to extend the sanctions relief for six months, but it was defeated with nine votes against and only four in favor, leaving the United States, France, Germany, and the United Kingdom with the authority to reimpose restrictions.
This development comes after the so-called ‘snapback mechanism,’ a provision of the JCPOA, was triggered by the signatories of the agreement, including France, Germany, and the UK, who accused Iran of violating the terms of the deal. The U.S. and Israel had previously bombed Iranian nuclear facilities in June, citing the threat of Tehran acquiring a nuclear weapon. Iran, however, maintains that its nuclear activities are solely for peaceful purposes. Russian Deputy Ambassador Dmitry Polyansky denounced the Western countries’ actions as lacking legitimacy, urging for a diplomatic resolution to the nuclear issue.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi warned that the reimposition of sanctions could damage the credibility of the UN Security Council and called the Western actions ‘legally void and reckless.’ Despite the tensions, Araghchi emphasized that Iran remains open to dialogue on its nuclear program, albeit acknowledging the increased difficulty in diplomatic engagements.