Widespread United Nations sanctions against Iran were officially reinstated late Saturday for the first time in ten years, following the breakdown of nuclear negotiations between Tehran and Western powers.
The renewed measures, which come three months after Israeli and US strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities, restrict dealings related to Iran’s nuclear and ballistic missile programs. They are also expected to worsen the country’s already fragile economy.
Western diplomats emphasized that the door to diplomacy remains open. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio called on Tehran to “accept direct talks, held in good faith,” while urging all UN member states to swiftly enforce the sanctions to pressure Iran’s leaders.
Britain, France, and Germany issued a joint statement affirming their commitment to pursuing a diplomatic solution that would ensure Iran never develops a nuclear weapon, while also warning Tehran against any escalation.
Iran recently allowed UN inspectors back into its nuclear facilities, but President Masoud Pezeshkian dismissed a US proposal requiring Tehran to surrender its entire stockpile of enriched uranium in exchange for temporary relief, describing it as unacceptable.
Efforts by Russia and China to delay the reimposition of sanctions until April failed at the UN Security Council, clearing the way for the measures to take effect at midnight GMT on Sunday.
German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul, whose country joined Britain and France in triggering the sanctions, said Tehran had left them “no choice” by failing to meet its commitments. He stressed that while preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons was imperative, his government remained open to negotiations.
Russia, however, rejected the move, vowing not to implement the sanctions. Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov accused Western nations of “sabotaging constructive solutions” and using blackmail to force concessions from Iran.
The sanctions are a revival of those lifted in 2015 under the nuclear deal negotiated during the Obama administration, which imposed strict curbs on Iran’s nuclear activities. The United States had already reimposed sweeping unilateral sanctions after former President Donald Trump withdrew from the agreement, targeting Iranian oil sales and pressuring other countries to comply.
Tensions between Iran and the West intensified earlier this year after Omani-brokered talks collapsed, followed by Israeli and American military strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities. In response to the new UN measures, Tehran recalled its ambassadors from Britain, France, and Germany.
Inside Iran, citizens are already feeling the impact. The rial plummeted to a record low of 1.12 million to the dollar on the black market, driving people to buy gold as a hedge against further currency collapse. “Life was already difficult, but now it will get worse,” said Dariush, a 50-year-old engineer, lamenting how living standards have declined sharply compared to just a few years ago.
Analysts warn that the sanctions will further compound Iran’s economic struggles, which include soaring inflation, currency instability, and failing infrastructure. The International Crisis Group noted that although Iran has adapted to years of US sanctions, the snapback of UN measures will be far harder to reverse since it requires broad Security Council consensus.
At the UN General Assembly, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu strongly supported the sanctions’ return, insisting there should be “no delay.” He also suggested Israel was prepared to launch further military action, following June’s bombardment that Iranian authorities claim killed over 1,000 people.
