The United Nations has reinstated sanctions on Iran on Saturday, following a process triggered by the United Kingdom and key European powers that Tehran has warned will be met with a harsh response.
Britain, France and Germany triggered the return of sanctions on Iran at the UN Security Council over accusations the country has violated a 2015 deal that aimed to stop it developing a nuclear bomb. Iran denies seeking nuclear weapons.
The move prompted Iran to recall its ambassadors to all three countries.
The end of the decade-long nuclear deal originally agreed by Iran, Britain, Germany, France, the United States, Russia and China is likely to exacerbate tensions in the Middle East, just months after Israel and the US bombed Iranian nuclear sites.
UN sanctions imposed by the Security Council in resolutions adopted between 2006 and 2010 were reinstated at 1am Sunday UK time.
âWe urge Iran and all states to abide fully by these resolutions,â the foreign ministers of France, Britain and Germany said in a joint statement.
âOur countries will continue to pursue diplomatic routes and negotiations. The reimposition of UN sanctions is not the end of diplomacy.
âWe urge Iran to refrain from any escalatory action and to return to compliance with its legally binding safeguards obligations.â
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said in his own statement that the UN sanctions were justified.
âIran must accept direct talks, held in good faith, without stalling or obfuscation,â he said, stressing that until there was a new deal it was important that countries implemented sanctions to pressure Iranâs leaders to do what is âbest for the safety of the world.â
Iranâs economy is already struggling with crippling US sanctions reimposed since 2018 after Trump ditched a pact between the two nations brokered by his predecessor, Barack Obama.
With the return of UN sanctions, Iran will again be subjected to an arms embargo and a ban on all uranium enrichment and reprocessing activities, and any activity related to ballistic missiles capable of delivering nuclear weapons, including launches.
Other sanctions to be reimposed include a travel ban and asset freeze on dozens of Iranian individuals.
With Reuters
