Iran calls UN sanctions return a dangerous precedent

TEHRAN: Iran on Friday condemned Western efforts to reimpose international sanctions, warning that the move undermines trust in the global order.

The sanctions, set to return this weekend, come after a failed bid by Russia and China to delay the snapback mechanism at the UN Security Council.

Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi told the UN Security Council that reinstating sanctions against Tehran was “legally void” and a “dangerous precedent.” He accused the United States of rejecting diplomacy and the European trio — Britain, France and Germany (E3) — of choosing confrontation over dialogue.

“Iran will never respond to threats or pressure,” Araghchi said, urging the council president to declare the sanctions unlawful. He warned that enforcing them would damage the council’s credibility.

On Friday, the Security Council voted on a Russian-Chinese draft resolution to extend the 2015 nuclear deal and delay sanctions until 2026. The measure received only four votes in favor, nine against, and two abstentions.

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Nine members, including the US, UK, France, Denmark, Greece, and Somalia, opposed the draft. Britain’s envoy Barbara Wood said the council had completed “the necessary steps” under Resolution 2231, making the snapback automatic.

With the vote failing, all UN sanctions on Iran will be reinstated at 8 p.m. EDT Saturday (0000 GMT). The measures will include:

• A ban on uranium enrichment and reprocessing

• An arms embargo and ballistic missile restrictions

• A global asset freeze and travel bans

• Fresh pressure on Iran’s already struggling energy sector

EU sanctions are also expected to follow next week.

President Masoud Pezeshkian told reporters that Iran had no plans to leave the Non-Proliferation Treaty and reiterated that Tehran would not seek nuclear weapons.

“Iran will never seek nuclear weapons … We are fully prepared to be transparent about our highly enriched uranium,” he said.

Still, Iran has halted cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency, accusing it of bias after attacks on Iranian facilities earlier this year.

The US and its allies say Tehran has failed to meet nuclear obligations, while France insisted the sanctions “are not the end of diplomacy.” Araghchi countered that it was the US that “betrayed diplomacy” and the E3 who “buried it.”

At the UN General Assembly, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu urged the world to ensure Iran does not rebuild its nuclear program, calling the sanctions a necessary step.