Accra: Iran dismissed the UN sanctions on its nuclear programme as unlawful on Sunday, after they were reactivated by Germany, France, and Britain. 'The measure taken by the three European countries is flawed from a legal and procedural point of view, and is therefore null and void,' Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi wrote to UN Secretary General Ant³nio Guterres in a letter posted on X.
According to Ghana News Agency, Araghchi stated that the entry into force of the UN sanctions constituted a 'clear abuse' of the 2015 nuclear agreement, calling it morally and politically unjustifiable. He further expressed expectations for Guterres to prevent the three European countries and the US from exploiting the UN for their political purposes.
The sanctions were reactivated following the activation of the 'snapback' mechanism by Germany, France, and Britain, cosignatories of the landmark agreement aimed at preventing Iran from building nuclear weapons. Western powers have expressed concerns over Iran's intentions, fearing the country is seeking to build a nuclear bomb, although Tehran insists its nuclear activities are solely for civilian purposes.
The three European powers have accused Iran of uranium enrichment far beyond levels needed for civilian nuclear purposes, prompting demands for the resumption of inspections by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). Despite diplomatic efforts, no breakthrough was achieved with Iranian leaders, leading to the reinstatement of the sanctions regime that was in place from 2006-2010.
The reinstated measures include a comprehensive arms embargo, a ban on uranium enrichment, and a global freeze on the assets of Iranian individuals and entities linked to nuclear or ballistic missile programmes. While the sanctions are expected to further strain Iran's already weakened economy, which has been affected by extensive unilateral measures imposed by the United States, the full impact of the UN 'snapback' remains uncertain.
In response to the reinstatement of the sanctions, Iran announced on Saturday that it was recalling its ambassadors from Britain, France, and Germany.
