UN Reimposes Snapback Sanctions on Iran

The United Nations has reimposed so‑called snapback sanctions on Iran after Britain, France and Germany triggered the JCPOA mechanism and a separate Russia‑China bid to extend waivers failed in the Security Council, effectively ending a decade of UN sanctions relief. The measures restore an arms embargo and asset freezes and add travel bans, authority to inspect cargo, and prohibitions on transfers of nuclear- and missile‑related technology. European and U.S. officials say Tehran failed to authorize IAEA inspections and has not accounted for a reported high‑enriched uranium stockpile; Iran denounces the move as illegal, warns of reciprocal responses and hardliners have revived talk of abandoning the Nuclear Non‑Proliferation Treaty. Iran is already facing severe economic distress, with inflation above 40 percent, record currency weakness and rising prices, intensifying domestic debate between officials urging negotiations to relieve economic pain and hardliners pushing resistance. Western leaders say the sanctions are intended to pressure Iran back to negotiations, but analysts warn the snapback could sharpen regional tensions after recent Israeli and U.S. strikes and raise the risk of escalation.