The United Nations has reimposed sanctions on Iran over accusations that the country violated a nuclear deal.
Britain, France and Germany triggered the return of sanctions on Iran at the UN Security Council after Tehran allegedly violated the 2015 deal aimed at stopping it from developing a nuclear bomb.
The end of the nuclear deal originally agreed by Iran, Britain, Germany, France, the US, Russia and China is likely to further exacerbate tensions in the Middle East, months after Israel and the US bombed Iranian nuclear sites.
Iran denies trying to build nuclear weapons, and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said on Friday that Tehran had no intention of leaving the 2015 non-proliferation treaty.
After the UN sanctions were reinstated, Iran warned of a harsh response and recalled its ambassadors to Britain, France and Germany for consultations.
Russia and China unsuccessfully tried to delay the return of UN sanctions on Iran, with Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov later calling the decision to reinstate them “unlawful”.
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Inside Iran: After the war
“It cannot be implemented,” he told reporters at the UN.
He added that he had written to Antonio Guterres, the UN secretary-general, to warn him that it would be a “major mistake” for him to acknowledge a return of sanctions on Iran.
Britain, France and Germany had offered to delay reimposing the sanctions for up to six months to allow time for talks on a long-term deal.
In return, the European powers were asking for Tehran to restore access for UN nuclear inspectors, address concerns about its stock of enriched uranium, and engage in talks with the US.
“Our countries will continue to pursue diplomatic routes and negotiations. The reimposition of UN sanctions is not the end of diplomacy,” the foreign ministers of Britain, France and Germany said in a joint statement.
“We urge Iran to refrain from any escalatory action and to return to compliance with its legally binding safeguards obligations.”
Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Pic: Reuters
US President Donald Trump believes that diplomacy is still an option for Iran and a new deal remains the best outcome for Iranians and the world, according to US secretary of state Marco Rubio.
“For that to happen, Iran must accept direct talks, held in good faith, without stalling or obfuscation,” he said after the reinstated sanctions were announced.
Mr Rubio added that it was important that countries implement sanctions “immediately in order to pressure Iran’s leaders to do what is right for their nation, and best for the safety of the world”, and accept a new deal.
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The new sanctions on Iran include an arms embargo and a ban on all uranium enrichment, reprocessing activities, the supply of anything that could be used in the country’s nuclear programme, and any activity related to ballistic missiles capable of delivering nuclear weapons, including launches.
There is also a travel ban on dozens of Iranians, as well as an asset freeze on a dozen Iranian individuals and entities.
Iran’s economy is already struggling after President Trump reimposed US sanctions during his first term in 2018, and its rial currency fell to a new record low over fears of the new sanctions.