The United Nations snapback sanctions on Iran came into effect at midnight GMT for the first time in a decade after the last attempt to resume nuclear negotiations with Western powers failed.
The sanctions came into effect after a Russia-China-backed resolution in the UNSC failed to receive support from the member states.
The sanctions will allow Western nations to freeze overseas Iranian assets, put a complete arms embargo and also penalise Tehran’s advanced Ballistic Missile development, among the various measures.
These snapback sanctions were triggered by the E3 nations, consisting of the United Kingdom, France and Germany, at the UN Security Council.
The E3 nations alleged that Tehran violated the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) deal to stop it from developing nuclear weapons, allegations that Iran denies.
"We urge Iran to refrain from any escalatory action and to return to compliance with its legally binding safeguards obligations," the three European countries' foreign ministers said in a joint statement.
They said “reimposition of the UN sanctions is not the end of diplomacy,” but rather a move to motivate Iran to come to the negotiating table.
Aslo Read : Lavrov says Germany repeating Hitler era ambitions
Though these sanctions, as experts believe, would hasten the Iranian nuclear development, they would only complicate the situation in the region.
Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, in a recent statement, said that Iran was ready to conduct the first-ever nuclear test in the Middle East.
The statement quickly drew responses from the international community over what they believe could be a balancing act or hint to Israel, which might be considering another assault on the Iranian nuclear research facilities, as it did in June earlier this year.
Meanwhile, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio also called on UN member states to "immediately" implement sanctions to "pressure Iran's leaders to do what is right for their nation and best for the safety of the world."
Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian downplayed the threat of sanctions as he left New York, saying, "It is not like the sky is falling."
Follow us
