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.
U.S. President Donald Trump said Washington could destroy Iran’s infrastructure “in two days,” while Tehran warned the U.S. would...
President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping sought to project stability and renewed dialogue during a closely watched summit in Beijing...
Ahead of next week’s World Urban Forum (WUF13), Baku State University and Azerbaijan’s State Committee fo...
French authorities have opened a new judicial inquiry into the killing of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi, bringing renewed legal attention to a c...
Pope Leo is set to visit France from 25 to 28 September, with a stop at UNESCO headquarters in Paris expected to form a significant part of the tri...
Baku will host the 13th World Urban Forum (WUF13) from 17 to 22 May, bringing together around 25,000 participants from 176 countries to address the global housing crisis and sustainable urban development.
Ahead of next week’s World Urban Forum (WUF13), Baku State University and Azerbaijan’s State Committee for Urban Planning and Architecture have organised an international conference on sustainable cities and human capital in urban development.
French authorities have opened a new judicial inquiry into the killing of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi, bringing renewed legal attention to a case that continues to draw international focus nearly eight years after his killing.
Pope Leo is set to visit France from 25 to 28 September, with a stop at UNESCO headquarters in Paris expected to form a significant part of the trip.
Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Tehran has “no trust” in the United States and will only consider negotiations if Washington shows seriousness. His remarks came as talks on Iran’s nuclear programme continued, with Trump and Xi also opposing Iran acquiring nuclear weapons.
U.S. President Donald Trump said Washington could destroy Iran’s infrastructure “in two days,” while Tehran warned the U.S. would face growing economic costs from the conflict. The remarks came as Hezbollah reported new attacks on Israeli forces despite an extended Lebanon ceasefire.
The second semi-final of the 70th Eurovision Song Contest 2026 takes place tonight in a rain-soaked Vienna, with the final 10 places in Saturday’s grand final still up for grabs.
Russia and Ukraine exchanged prisoners of war as well as the bodies of fallen soldiers, on Friday (15 May). The swap came as Ukranian officials said Moscow had carried out its largest aerial attack over 48 hours since the conflict started.
Donald Trump arrived in Beijing on Wednesday evening to a carefully choreographed reception that underscored the significance China is placing on the visit.
China has launched the world’s first experiment to study how artificial human embryos develop in space, marking a major step in understanding whether humans could one day reproduce beyond Earth.
Every day, an elderly woman in China’s Shandong province looks forward to a video call from her son. He asks about her health, tells her he has been busy with work, and promises he will come home once he has saved enough money. She tells him she misses him. He tells her to take care of herself.
President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping sought to project stability and renewed dialogue during a closely watched summit in Beijing this week, even as major disagreements over Taiwan, trade and global security remained unresolved.
French authorities have opened a new judicial inquiry into the killing of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi, bringing renewed legal attention to a case that continues to draw international focus nearly eight years after his killing.
Pope Leo is set to visit France from 25 to 28 September, with a stop at UNESCO headquarters in Paris expected to form a significant part of the trip.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment