UN Reimposes Arms and Other Sanctions on Iran Over Nuclear Program

The United Nations has reimposed arms and other sanctions on Iran over its nuclear program, following a process initiated by European powers. Tehran has warned of a strong response.

Britain, France, and Germany pushed for the restoration of sanctions at the UN Security Council, accusing Iran of violating the 2015 nuclear deal designed to prevent it from developing a bomb. Iran continues to deny pursuing nuclear weapons.

The collapse of the decade-old deal—originally agreed by Iran, the UK, France, Germany, the US, Russia, and China—risks heightening tensions in the Middle East. The agreement itself was reached just months after Israel and the United States carried out strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities.

UN sanctions previously adopted between 2006 and 2010 were formally reinstated at 8 p.m. EST on Saturday (0000 GMT Sunday). Efforts to delay the move during this week’s annual UN General Assembly summit failed.

In a joint statement issued after the deadline, the foreign ministers of France, Britain, and Germany said: “We call on Iran, and on all states, to fully comply with these resolutions.”

EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas confirmed on Sunday that the European Union would “without delay proceed to reimpose all nuclear-related sanctions previously lifted by both the UN and the EU.”

Israel hailed the reimposition of sanctions on its arch-rival as a “major development,” citing Tehran’s ongoing nuclear violations. The Israeli Foreign Ministry wrote on X: “The goal is clear: to prevent a nuclear-armed Iran. The world must do everything possible to achieve this.”

Tehran recalls envoys
Iran has vowed a tough response to the move. On Saturday, Tehran announced it was recalling its ambassadors from Britain, France, and Germany for consultations. However, President Masoud Pezeshkian said on Friday that Iran has no intention of withdrawing from the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.

Russia strongly objected to the reinstatement of UN sanctions. Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov told reporters at the UN on Saturday: “This is illegal and unenforceable.” He added that he had written to Secretary-General António Guterres, warning that accepting the sanctions’ return would be a “grave mistake.”

European powers had offered to postpone sanctions for up to six months if Iran restored access for UN nuclear inspectors, addressed concerns over its enriched uranium stockpile, and engaged in talks with the United States to pave the way for a long-term agreement.

The foreign ministers of the UK, France, and Germany urged Iran to “return to compliance,” stressing: “Our countries will continue diplomatic efforts and dialogue. The reimposition of UN sanctions is not the end of diplomacy.”

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said in a statement that President Donald Trump had made clear diplomacy remains an option, calling a negotiated deal the best outcome for both the Iranian people and the world.

“For that to happen, Iran must accept direct talks in good faith, without delay or ambiguity,” Rubio said, adding that until a new agreement is reached, it is crucial to maintain pressure through immediate sanctions enforcement.

Rial plunges to record low
Iran’s economy is already reeling from US sanctions reimposed after Trump withdrew from the nuclear deal in 2018. Fears of renewed UN measures have further battered the rial.

According to currency tracking sites such as Bonbast.com, the rial slid to 1,123,000 per US dollar on Saturday—a new record low—down from about 1,085,000 the day before.

With the sanctions back in place, Iran again faces an arms embargo, along with bans on all uranium enrichment and reprocessing activities, and on any work related to ballistic missiles capable of carrying nuclear warheads.

Other reinstated measures include travel bans on dozens of Iranian individuals, asset freezes on people and entities linked to the nuclear program, and restrictions on the supply of materials that could be used in nuclear development.

All UN member states are authorized to seize and dispose of prohibited items, while Iran is barred from engaging in uranium mining, production, or nuclear-related commercial activities abroad.