UN Security Council Paves the Way for “Snapback” Sanctions on Iran

Kokcha News Agency – In a vote at the UN Security Council, Russia, China, Pakistan, and Algeria voted in favor of the resolution, while nine countries, including the UK, France, and the US, voted against it. The resolution, proposed by South Korea, which holds the Council’s presidency this month, sought to continue the easing of sanctions on Iran.

However, the resolution failed to secure the nine votes needed for adoption, effectively opening the door for the reimposition of “snapback” sanctions on Iran under UNSC Resolution 2231. The UK, France, Denmark, Slovenia, Sierra Leone, Panama, the US, Greece, and Somalia voted against the resolution, while Guyana and South Korea abstained.

The “snapback” mechanism, part of the 2015 nuclear deal (JCPOA), allows for the automatic reimposition of UN sanctions if Iran is found to be in violation of the agreement. In August, the UK, France, and Germany triggered this mechanism following the US’s unilateral withdrawal from the deal in 2018.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has argued that the European parties lack the legal basis to trigger the “snapback” mechanism, claiming they have “violated the foundations of the agreement” and “lost their participatory role.” Russia and China, also parties to the nuclear deal, have supported Iran, calling the European move “legally invalid” and “illogical” in a joint letter to the UNSC.

If no last-minute agreement is reached or the deadline is not extended, the “snapback” process will conclude at midnight on September 28, automatically reinstating UN sanctions on Iran.