New York, September 29, 2025 (Agencies): Sweeping United Nations economic and military sanctions have been reimposed on Iran, ten years after they were lifted under the landmark 2015 nuclear agreement, the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).
The move comes after the UK, France, and Germany invoked the deal’s “snapback” mechanism, citing Tehran’s “continued nuclear escalation” and refusal to cooperate with inspectors from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
Iran halted inspections of its nuclear sites earlier this year after coordinated U.S. and Israeli airstrikes in June hit several nuclear facilities and military bases. While Washington and Tel Aviv said the strikes dealt “monumental damage,” experts questioned their long-term impact.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, while denying any intention to develop nuclear weapons, condemned the sanctions as “unfair, unjust, and illegal.” He warned that the reimposition could jeopardize fragile diplomatic efforts, though he softened earlier threats to withdraw from the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.
The JCPOA, struck between Iran and six world powers in 2015, was designed to curb Tehran’s nuclear activity in exchange for sanctions relief. The U.S. withdrew from the deal in 2018 under then-President Donald Trump, who argued it was flawed. Iran gradually rolled back its commitments thereafter, expanding uranium enrichment and limiting oversight.
European powers expressed regret over the breakdown of talks on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly last week, but said they had “no choice” but to act, pointing to Tehran’s refusal to address concerns over uranium stockpiles and blocked IAEA access.
“We urge Iran to refrain from any escalatory action,” the E3 foreign ministers said in a joint statement, adding that sanctions “are not the end of diplomacy.”
The IAEA confirmed that inspections have now resumed following months of suspension, but Western officials remain skeptical of Tehran’s claims that its nuclear program is purely peaceful.
Israel welcomed the sanctions as a “major step in response to Iran’s ongoing violations,” urging the international community to use “every tool” to prevent Tehran from becoming a nuclear power.
Meanwhile, Iran’s foreign ministry warned of a “firm and appropriate response” to any move undermining its rights, signaling renewed tension in a region already destabilized by proxy conflicts and nuclear fears.