Key points
- UN sanctions take effect late on Saturday
- Russia accuses West of killing diplomacy
- Iran vows no nuclear weapon pursuit
ISLAMABAD: Iran has recalled its ambassadors to Germany, France, and the United Kingdom for consultations amid rising tensions over the reimposition of UN sanctions.
The Mehr state news agency reported the move on Saturday, shortly before the sanctions were due to take effect.
The development follows the failure of a Russian and Chinese-backed proposal to delay sanctions, which was rejected at the UN Security Council with only four of the 15 members supporting it.
Russia accused Western powers of abandoning diplomacy.
Despite renewed pressure, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian assured journalists that Iran would not exit the Non-Proliferation Treaty. “Iran will never seek nuclear weapons… We are fully prepared to be transparent about our highly enriched uranium,” he said.
The sanctions were triggered after the European powers — the E3 (Germany, France, and the UK) — activated a 30-day mechanism, accusing Tehran of breaching the 2015 nuclear agreement. Attempts to reach a compromise through last-minute talks failed, with nine Security Council members voting against the delay and two abstaining.
UN sanctions
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi criticised both the US and European powers. “The US has betrayed diplomacy, but it is the E3 which have buried it,” he said, calling the snapback “legally void, politically reckless and procedurally flawed.” He added, “Diplomacy will never die, but it will be more difficult and more complicated than before.”
The E3 had offered a six-month delay in exchange for Iran’s cooperation with UN inspectors and fresh negotiations. However, the US insisted Iran had failed to address key concerns.
UN sanctions take effect immediately, with EU sanctions to follow next week. These include bans on arms, uranium enrichment, and ballistic missile activities, alongside asset freezes and travel bans. Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu urged global vigilance, saying Iran’s nuclear stockpiles “must be eliminated.”
