'Bringing Iranians To Knees A Pipe Dream': Iran Slams UN Sanctions

Tehran ~ Iran has strongly denounced the United Nations' decision to restore sanctions against the Islamic Republic, dismissing the move as unlawful, politically motivated, and doomed to fail.

The sanctions, which officially returned at 00:00 GMT on Sunday, re-impose measures that had been lifted under the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA). They include freezing Iranian assets abroad, halting arms deals, and targeting Tehran's missile and defense programs.

In a formal letter dated September 28, Iran's ambassador and permanent representative to the United Nations, Amir Saeid Iravani, lodged a strong protest with Secretary-General António Guterres and the president of the UN Security Council.

Iravani argued that Security Council Resolution 2231, which endorsed the JCPOA, grants no authority to the UN Secretariat to“determine, declare, or notify” member states about the reapplication of terminated resolutions.

“The resolution sets out a specific mechanism under operative paragraphs 11 and 12, placing the matter exclusively within the purview of the Security Council,” he wrote.

The envoy accused the Secretariat of overstepping its authority and siding with the E3 (Germany, Britain, France) and the United States, despite clear divisions within the Security Council.

He recalled the failed U.S. attempt in October 2020 to trigger the same“snapback” mechanism, which at the time was rejected by most Council members. The Secretariat then refrained from taking unilateral steps, Iravani stressed, demonstrating that no independent mandate exists under Resolution 2231.

Calling the Secretariat's move a“serious breach of Article 100 of the UN Charter”, Iravani said the office had compromised its duty of independence and impartiality.

The re-imposition of sanctions followed two failed UNSC votes on September 19. One draft resolution that sought to block the“snapback” was rejected, while another, backed by China and Russia to extend the JCPOA and Resolution 2231 for six months, also failed due to Western opposition.

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