UN reinstates sanctions on Iran over nuclear deal violations

The sanctions, first adopted by the UN Security Council between 2006 and 2010, came back into force at midnight on Sept. 28. In a joint statement, the foreign ministers of the UK, France, and Germany urged Iran and other states to comply with the relevant resolutions.

In response, Iran recalled its ambassadors from London, Paris, and Berlin for consultations. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said Tehran has no intention of leaving the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty but warned of a “harsh response” to the renewed sanctions.

Russia has challenged the UN’s move to restore sanctions on Iran.

Background on Iran’s nuclear program
In 2015, Iran signed a deal with six world powers — the United States, UK, Russia, France, China, and Germany, along with the European Union — pledging to curb its nuclear program in exchange for sanctions relief.

In 2018, U.S. President Donald Trump withdrew from the agreement and launched a “maximum pressure” strategy, imposing sweeping new sanctions to force Tehran to make concessions. Iran restarted uranium enrichment after the deal collapsed.

During Joe Biden’s presidency, Iran’s nuclear program advanced significantly, according to Axios. Washington attempted to revive the agreement through indirect talks, but negotiations stalled by late 2022. The U.S. accused Tehran of making “unreasonable” demands linked to an International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) probe into undeclared uranium traces. Officials later said the deal was no longer “on the table.”

Trump, in his second term, revived the “maximum pressure” campaign. Despite several rounds of negotiations, no new deal was signed. Following U.S. strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities, Tehran abandoned talks entirely.

On June 28, Iranian parliament deputy speaker Hamid Reza Haji Babaei declared that Tehran would no longer allow IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi to inspect its nuclear sites or install surveillance cameras.

U.S. State Department spokeswoman Tammy Bruce condemned Iran’s decision to cut cooperation with the IAEA. On Sept. 21, Iran’s Supreme National Security Council announced the suspension of cooperation following what it called “reckless” actions by the UK, France, and Germany.