The United Nations has reimposed sanctions on Iran over its nuclear programme, further squeezing the Islamic Republic as its people increasingly find themselves priced out of the food they need to survive and worried about their futures.

After last-minute diplomacy failed at the United Nations, the sanctions took effect early on Sunday.

The sanctions will again freeze Iranian assets abroad, halt arms deals with Tehran, and penalise any development of Iran’s ballistic missile programme, among other measures.

It came via a mechanism known as “snapback,” included in Iran’s 2015 nuclear deal with world powers, and comes as Iran's economy already is reeling.

The end of the nuclear deal originally negotiated by Iran, Britain, Germany, France, the United States, Russia and China is likely to exacerbate tensions in Middle East, just months after Israel and the US bombed Iranian nuclear sites.

However, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian appeared to downplay the issue, telling reporters before he left New York on Friday: "It is not like the sky is falling."

Attempts to delay the return of all sanctions on Iran, initially imposed by the UN Security Council between 2006 and 2010, failed on the sidelines of the annual gathering of world leaders at the UN this week.

Iran has denied seeking nuclear weapons.

European powers had offered to delay reinstating sanctions for up to six months to allow space for talks on a long-term deal if Iran restored access for UN nuclear inspectors, addressed concerns about its stock of enriched uranium, and engaged in talks with the United States.

"In past days and weeks, Iran has put forward multiple proposals to keep the window for diplomacy open. The E3 has failed to reciprocate while the US has doubled down on its dictates," Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi posted on X on Friday.

European Union sanctions are due to return next week.

Tehran has warned of a harsh response.

But Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said on Friday that Iran had no intention to leave the Non-Proliferation Treaty.

Iran's said on Saturday it was recalling its ambassadors to Britain, France and Germany for consultations.

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 on dozens of Iranian individuals, an asset freeze on dozens of Iranian individuals and entities and a ban on the supply of anything that could be used in Iran's nuclear programme. (Agencies)
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Last updated: 2025-09-28 HKT 08:16