Sweeping United Nations sanctions have come back into force against Iran for the first time in a decade, following the failure of last-minute diplomatic efforts to revive stalled nuclear talks with Western powers.
The measures, which took effect late Saturday, target dealings linked to Tehran’s nuclear and ballistic missile programs. They are also expected to deepen pressure on an economy already reeling from inflation, currency instability, and infrastructure problems.
European and US diplomats emphasized that the return of sanctions does not signal the end of diplomacy. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio urged Tehran to “accept direct talks, held in good faith,” and called on UN member states to swiftly implement the measures to “pressure Iran’s leaders to do what is right for their nation, and best for the safety of the world.”
Britain, France, and Germany said in a joint statement that they remain committed to finding “a new diplomatic solution to ensure Iran never gets a nuclear weapon,” while urging Tehran to “refrain from any escalatory action.”
Iran, however, denounced the move as “legally baseless and unjustifiable.” The foreign ministry said on Sunday that all countries “must refrain from recognising this illegal situation” and vowed to “firmly defend its national rights and interests.”
The sanctions snapback followed the collapse of Omani-brokered talks earlier this year and came three months after Israeli and US airstrikes targeted Iranian nuclear facilities. President Masoud Pezeshkian said Washington’s offer of a brief reprieve in exchange for Iran surrendering its entire stockpile of enriched uranium was “unacceptable.”
An attempt by Russia and China to delay the sanctions until April failed in the Security Council on Friday, clearing the way for their reactivation at midnight GMT Sunday. Germany’s Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul said Berlin had “no choice” but to act, citing Iran’s failure to meet its obligations.
“For us, it is imperative: Iran must never acquire a nuclear weapon,” he told the UN General Assembly.
Russia has rejected the measures, calling them invalid. Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov accused the West of “sabotaging the pursuit of constructive solutions in the UN Security Council” and seeking “unilateral concessions from Tehran through blackmail and pressure.”
The sanctions, originally frozen in 2015 under a landmark deal negotiated by former US President Barack Obama, were triggered after Iran was found in breach of the accord. The United States had already imposed sweeping unilateral restrictions when President Donald Trump abandoned the deal during his first term.
The renewed measures have intensified economic strains inside Iran. The rial fell to a record low of around 1.12 million to the US dollar on the black market on Sunday, according to currency-tracking websites Bonbast and AlanChand.
“The current situation was already very difficult, but it’s going to get worse,” said Dariush, a 50-year-old engineer in Tehran. “The impact of the renewed sanctions is already evident: the exchange rate is increasing, and this is leading to higher prices.”
At Tehran’s Grand Bazaar, journalists reported brisk gold sales as Iranians rushed to shield their savings from the currency’s plunge.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had pressed for immediate reinstatement of the sanctions during a speech at the UN General Assembly on Friday. He also suggested Israel was prepared to take further military action following June’s airstrikes, which Iranian officials said killed more than 1,000 people.
Despite the escalating tensions, Western leaders maintain that diplomatic channels remain open.