UN Sanctions Hit Iran as Snapback Deadline Expires

• UN sanctions on Iran reinstated due to Tehran’s refusal to comply with inspections and diplomacy.
• Triggered under the “snapback” mechanism of the 2015 nuclear deal, sanctions reignite geopolitical tensions.

On September 27, 2025, Cryptopolitan reported that United Nations sanctions on Iran had been reimposed following Tehran’s failure to meet a 30-day deadline set by the UK, Germany, and France. The sanctions were activated under the “snapback” provision of the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) after Iran rejected resuming talks with the United States and denied full inspection access to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

The snapback mechanism, outlined in UN Security Council Resolution 2231, serves as an enforcement tool for JCPOA compliance. It enables any party to unilaterally reinstate sanctions in response to significant non-compliance. According to Cryptopolitan, the provision is immune to vetoes, which thwarted attempts by Russia and China to provide Iran more time for compliance in the UN Security Council.

Iran has maintained its commitment to the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) but threatened to cease cooperation with the IAEA. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian condemned European powers and the U.S., blaming a “wall of mistrust” stemming from the U.S. withdrawal from the JCPOA under the Trump administration. Nonetheless, Iran remains accused of enriching uranium to near weapons-grade levels and concealing nuclear materials at important sites.

The renewed sanctions target Iran’s ballistic missile program, impose an arms embargo, and introduce economic penalties such as asset freezes and restrictions on financial transactions. European powers invoked the snapback mechanism due to Tehran's failure to supply verifiable data on uranium enrichment and its decision to suspend critical cooperation with the IAEA. A preliminary inspection agreement between Iran and the IAEA was deemed insufficient as it excluded key facilities from scrutiny.

Iran contests the legality of the snapback, arguing that the European powers lost moral authority to enforce penalties after the U.S. withdrawal in 2018. However, European diplomats assert that Iran’s activities pose a serious proliferation risk, necessitating action within the JCPOA framework. The reimplementation of sanctions is expected to amplify economic hardships for Iran, which is already grappling with internal economic instability and the lingering effects of U.S. sanctions.