UN restores arms embargo, sanctions on Iran after european push

The United Nations has brought back a sweeping set of sanctions on Iran, including a renewed arms embargo, after Britain, France, and Germany accused Tehran of breaching its nuclear commitments. 

The measures, which took effect on Saturday evening, roll back the last remnants of the 2015 nuclear deal and have already triggered fierce warnings from Iran.
The three European powers invoked the so-called "snapback" mechanism at the UN Security Council, arguing that Iran has repeatedly violated the terms of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA)—the accord designed to curb Iran’s ability to build a nuclear weapon. Tehran continues to deny that it is seeking nuclear arms, insisting its nuclear program is strictly for civilian purposes.
The sanctions that came back into force were first adopted by the UN between 2006 and 2010, before the JCPOA suspended them in exchange for limits on Iran’s enrichment program. They cover restrictions on arms sales, ballistic missile activity, and financial dealings tied to Iran’s nuclear and military sectors. The restoration underscores the collapse of the decade-long nuclear bargain that once included the United States, Russia, and China alongside the European states and Iran.
Tensions in the Middle East are already running high. Just months ago, Israel and the United States carried out airstrikes against Iranian nuclear facilities, and Saturday’s decision is likely to harden positions further. "We urge Iran and all states to abide fully by these resolutions," Britain, France, and Germany said in a joint statement, underscoring their expectation that the international community will enforce the measures.
Tehran’s reaction has been swift. President Masoud Pezeshkian stressed on Friday that Iran would not quit the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, a key safeguard against weapons development, but his government recalled its ambassadors from London, Paris, and Berlin for consultations in protest. Officials warned of a "harsh response" if Western powers press ahead with enforcement.
Russia, meanwhile, has rejected the move outright. Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov told reporters at the UN that the sanctions are "unlawful" and warned Secretary-General Antonio Guterres in writing that recognizing their return would be "a major mistake." Moscow has long argued that Washington’s 2018 withdrawal from the JCPOA undermined the entire framework for restoring UN penalties.
Despite the objections, the UN Security Council website was quickly updated on Saturday night to show the reinstated sanctions, signaling the institutional weight behind the decision. Diplomats fear the step will deepen the region’s volatility and close off any remaining path to reviving nuclear diplomacy.