Iran's president calls UN sanctions snapback unfair, illegal

NEW YORK — In New York on Sept. 26, 2025, the Iranian president described the expected snapback of UN sanctions as unfair, unjust and illegal, saying any automatic reimposition would violate international norms.

Raisi's remarks were delivered as international observers anticipated the possible reimposition of UN penalties that Tehran has long contested. Officials have tied the sanctions to the 2015 nuclear deal, and many observers view a renewed penalties regime as a major shift in the global response to Tehran's nuclear program. Iran has long argued that the snapback mechanism is not valid after Washington's withdrawal from the agreement in 2018, and Tehran says any unilateral move would be illegitimate.

Analysts said the comments reflect Tehran's broader stance that sanctions pressure will not compel policy changes and that diplomacy remains the preferred path for addressing concerns over Iran's nuclear program. The remarks come as the international conversation around Iran's nuclear program continues, with Western and regional powers weighing how to respond to Tehran's posture while keeping lines of communication open. Observers note the potential consequences for Iran's economy and for regional diplomacy if UN penalties are reimposed, underscoring the fragility of current negotiations and the risk of renewed confrontation in the coming months. The Associated Press report frames Raisi's comments within the wider international debate over how to manage Iran's nuclear program and the future of sanctions in a rapidly shifting geopolitical landscape.