The UN Security Council on Friday rejected a proposal to continue sanctions relief for Iran under the 2015 nuclear deal, exposing deep divisions over the so-called “snapback” mechanism. The resolution, tabled by the Council president, the Republic of Korea, garnered only four votes in favor—from Russia, China, Algeria, and Pakistan—falling short of the nine votes required for adoption. Denmark, France, Greece, Panama, Sierra Leone, Slovenia, Somalia, the United Kingdom, and the United States voted against, while Guyana and South Korea abstained.
Had the resolution passed, it would have maintained the sanctions relief granted to Tehran under the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), lifting UN sanctions imposed prior to the deal. Instead, the failure to adopt the text automatically restores previous UN sanctions, as outlined in Resolution 2231, which set the framework for both lifting sanctions and reimposing them if a participant is found in “significant non-performance.”
The vote came amid heated discussions. Russia rejected the European claim to trigger snapback, with Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia arguing that France, Germany, and the UK acted outside Resolution 2231 and the JCPOA, imposing what he described as “illegal” unilateral sanctions. China echoed calls for caution, warning that a rushed vote could heighten tensions and undermine diplomatic solutions.
The UK, France, and Germany defended their action. UK Ambassador Barbara Woodward emphasized that the European participants had acted within the legal provisions of Resolution 2231, citing their 28 August 2025 notification as fulfilling the requirements to invoke snapback. France highlighted Iran’s growing nuclear stockpiles and restricted International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) access, arguing that the snapback mechanism was crucial to uphold global non-proliferation and maintain international peace and security.
The outcome underscores the persistent divisions among Security Council members on Iran’s nuclear program and the limits of consensus in enforcing compliance under the JCPOA framework.
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