UN sanctions reimposed on Iran as Europe urges restraint in stalled talks

The United Nations-backed sanctions on Iran were reimposed at 00:00 GMT on Saturday, as the United Kingdom, France and Germany urged Tehran to avoid escalating tensions and to return to negotiations. In a joint statement, the three countries said they had “no choice” but to bring back the sweeping measures against Tehran “as a last resort” over Iran’s alleged continued nuclear escalation and lack of cooperation. They added: “We urge Iran to refrain from any escalatory action,” and that “The reimposition of UN sanctions is not the end of diplomacy.”

The move restores a broad package of UN economic and military restrictions that had been lifted a decade earlier under the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA). Talks between Iran and the three European powers, held on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly earlier in the week, failed to produce a deal to delay the snapback. In a statement issued early Sunday, the foreign ministers of the E3 said that Iran had repeatedly breached its commitments and that the E3 had no choice but to trigger the snapback procedure, at the end of which those resolutions would be brought back into force. Still, they stressed that they would continue to pursue diplomatic routes and negotiations, citing Iran’s failure to respond to concerns and to meet asks on extensions despite extensive dialogue. The ministers pointed to Tehran’s refusal to cooperate with the International Atomic Energy Agency.

Iran has long maintained that its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes. President Masoud Pezeshkian reiterated last week that Tehran had no intention of developing nuclear weapons and condemned the reimposition of sanctions as unfair, unjust and illegal. He also signaled that while the country has not abandoned talks with the IAEA, a return to full cooperation would be contingent on assurances that Iran’s facilities would not be attacked by Israel as its enrichment program resumes. In comments to reporters on Friday, Pezeshkian walked back from earlier threats to quit the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, but said Iran would require reassurances before completing checks and resuming full compliance. He also rejected a U.S. demand to hand over the entire stockpile of enriched uranium in exchange for a three-month exemption from sanctions, asking, “Why would we put ourselves in such a trap and have a noose around our neck each month?”

The United Nations’ sanctions arrive at a time of renewed controversy over Iran’s nuclear activities. Iran suspended IAEA inspections after Israel and the United States struck several nuclear sites and military bases in June, but the IAEA confirmed on Friday that inspectors had resumed access and monitoring in Iran. Tehran has said it will cooperate with the IAEA only if its security concerns are addressed and it receives credible assurances that its nuclear facilities will not be attacked. The IAEA had previously reported that Tehran’s cooperation had faltered, including not authorizing inspectors to regain access to certain sites or providing a full accounting of the stockpile of high-enriched uranium.

Iran’s decision to recall ambassadors to Britain, France and Germany for consultations underscored the deepening rift with Western powers. The move comes after weeks of tension following the U.S. withdrawal from the JCPOA in 2018 and the subsequent reimposition of sanctions on Iran, which have remained a sticking point in broader diplomacy over Iran’s nuclear program. While the E3 have signaled willingness to keep diplomatic channels open, they have also made clear that the snapback process is now in effect and cannot be reversed unilaterally in the near term.

Analysts say the sanctions aim to pressure Tehran economically while signaling that the international community expects concrete actions on transparency and inspections. The reimposition also tests whether Iran will resume full compliance with IAEA safeguards, which Tehran has previously suspended or limited as it seeks security assurances and responses to its regional concerns. For Tehran, the calculations hinge on whether sanctions can be counterbalanced by a path to relief and a credible security guarantee against potential military actions in the region.

As diplomats watch for signs of renewed negotiation, the door to diplomacy remains formally open, but the path forward is narrow. The E3 have asserted that diplomacy remains their preference, provided Iran takes verifiable steps to address concerns over its nuclear activities and to grant inspectors full access. Iran has characterized the sanctions as a punitive measure that could be reversed only through a negotiated reset that respects Tehran’s security and sovereignty. The coming weeks are likely to focus on whether both sides can translate that rhetoric into verifiable concessions and a revived framework for monitoring and constraining Iran’s nuclear program.