The United Nations has reinstated sanctions on Iran in response to its nuclear program, intensifying pressure on the country amidst economic difficulties. The sanctions, effective from 8 p.m. ET on Sunday, involve freezing Iranian assets abroad, ceasing arms deals with Tehran, and penalizing any advancements in Iran’s ballistic missile program. These measures, part of the “snapback” provision in Iran’s 2015 nuclear deal with global powers, are exacerbating Iran’s already struggling economy.
The Iranian rial has hit a historic low, leading to soaring food prices and making daily life more challenging for its citizens, who are also concerned about potential conflicts with Israel and the United States. There are fears of increased repression within Iran, which has reportedly executed more people this year than in the past three decades.
France, Germany, and the United Kingdom initiated the snapback mechanism due to Iran’s restrictions on monitoring its nuclear program and the impasse in negotiations with the U.S. Iran further distanced itself from International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) monitoring following recent military actions. The country still possesses a substantial amount of uranium enriched up to 60%, close to weapons-grade levels, fueling concerns about its nuclear intentions.
Iran maintains that its nuclear program is peaceful, though Western nations and the IAEA believe Iran had a weapons program until 2003. The European nations’ ability to implement snapback has been contested by Iran, citing the U.S.’s unilateral withdrawal from the agreement in 2018. Despite the tensions, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio emphasized the importance of diplomacy and direct talks with Iran for a peaceful resolution.
