live Ceasefire strains as Israel intensifies attacks on Hezbollah in Lebanon killing hundreds - Thursday 9 April
Iran suggested it would be "unreasonable" to proceed with talks to forge a permanent peace d...
United Nations sanctions are set to be reimposed on Iran later Saturday under the “snapback” mechanism, a move Tehran says will be met with harsh retaliation. The step comes amid accusations Iran violated the 2015 nuclear deal, and echoes a deteriorating diplomatic standoff.
Efforts to delay reinstating all UN sanctions failed after a resolution by Russia and China to push back enforcement did not secure sufficient backing in the Security Council. As a result, the snapback is scheduled to take effect at 00:00 GMT on Sunday.
The snapback process was triggered 30 days ago by Britain, France and Germany (the “E3”), who accused Iran of breaching commitments under the 2015 deal, notably in areas like uranium enrichment and inspector access.
Iran denies seeking a nuclear weapon, and has called the move unlawful.
In response, Iran has recalled its ambassadors in Britain, France and Germany for consultations, escalating the diplomatic tit-for-tat. Meanwhile, President Masoud Pezeshkian downplayed alarm, saying, “It is not like the sky is falling.”
The sanctions to be reimposed include an arms embargo, bans on uranium enrichment and reprocessing, restrictions on ballistic missile-related activity, travel bans and asset freezes on designated persons and entities, and authorisation for seizure of prohibited material. Iran’s rial currency slid further, hitting a new record low as markets reacted to the looming return of sanctions.
Analysts warn the renewed sanctions may worsen Iran’s economic crisis, disrupt trade, limit access to banking and technology sectors, and hamper any remaining avenues for diplomatic engagement.
China and Russia vetoed a United Nations Security Council resolution on Tuesday aimed at coordinating defensive efforts to protect commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, leaving no agreed international framework for securing the vital route.
Lebanon’s Hezbollah said it had stopped firing on northern Israel and Israeli forces on Wednesday as part of a two-week ceasefire in the Middle East brokered between the United States and Iran. However, a Hezbollah lawmaker warned that the pause could collapse if Tel Aviv does not adhere to it.
Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said Iran and the United States, along with their allies, have agreed to an immediate two-week ceasefire covering all areas, but Israel says the deal excludes Lebanon. Tel Aviv says the U.S. is committed to achieving shared goals in upcoming negotiations.
Recent U.S. complaints about NATO allies and threats to quit the alliance are pushing European countries to seek alternative security arrangements, Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares said on Tuesday.
Construction has begun on a major new solar power project in Xizang, as China continues to expand its renewable energy capacity and push towards a greener future.
At least four people died after a small dinghy carrying migrants to Britain sank in the English Channel, French authorities announced on Thursday.
North Korea has tested a new cluster-bomb warhead mounted on a tactical ballistic missile, alongside advanced electromagnetic and infrastructure-targeting weapons, in a significant escalation of its military capabilities.
A barrage of Russian drones targeted and damaged a critical power substation in Ukraine's southern Odesa region on Wednesday, Ukrainian officials confirmed.
Start your day informed with the AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top stories for 9 April, covering the latest developments you need to know.
Greece will ban access to social media for children under 15 from 1 January 2027, Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said on Wednesday, citing rising anxiety, sleep problems and the addictive design of online platforms.
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