After nearly a decade, Iran is once again subject to UN sanctions, as the West revived measures that Tehran, Moscow, and Beijing have dismissed as unlawful.
The restrictions took effect at midnight GMT on Sunday after the European powers invoked the snapback mechanism of the 2015 nuclear deal, citing Iran’s violations of the accord’s terms.
The return of UN sanctions means a comprehensive set of penalties—including an arms embargo, asset freezes, banking restrictions, and bans on sensitive nuclear and missile-related activities—are now binding on all member states.
The move has alarmed ordinary Iranians, already reeling from years of inflation, unemployment, and the aftermath of June’s devastating Israeli–US airstrikes.
A blow to Iran’s economy
The reinstated UN sanctions are expected to affect nearly every sector of Iran’s fragile economy. The Iranian rial plummeted to a historic low of 1.3 million against the US dollar in Tehran’s open market, reflecting anxiety and speculation. Traders reported limited transactions, with some businesses halting sales until prices stabilize.
“Things are not looking stable at all,” said Rouzbeh, a 35-year-old vendor at Tehran’s Grand Bazaar. “Imported goods will get more expensive and scarce, and people’s purchasing power is collapsing.”
Iran’s economy has been under strain for years, but analysts warn the UN sanctions could push inflation even higher, beyond the current 40 percent rate, and trigger further shortages of essential goods.
Political reactions inside Iran
Hardliners in Tehran greeted the return of UN sanctions with satisfaction, portraying it as the final collapse of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), which they had long opposed. Saeed Jalili, an ultraconservative member of the Supreme National Security Council, said in a recent speech: “Today we must neutralise the enemy’s excessive demands and prevent his further threats.”
Meanwhile, reformist newspapers such as Shargh mourned the “death” of the nuclear deal, while the economic daily Donya-e-Eqtesad highlighted record inflation. In contrast, Kayhan, aligned with Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, downplayed the crisis, claiming growth was “positive without negotiations.”
Khamenei himself has ruled out any new talks with Washington, reinforcing Iran’s defiance as it confronts renewed isolation under UN sanctions.
Dispute over the snapback mechanism
The snapback clause of the JCPOA was designed to punish Iran if it violated nuclear restrictions. However, Tehran, Russia, and China argue that the West’s invocation of the clause is illegitimate, given that the United States unilaterally quit the nuclear deal in 2018 under then-President Donald Trump.
Iran insists it abided by its commitments until a year after Trump’s withdrawal, when it began gradually abandoning limits on enrichment. By 2025, Iran had enriched uranium up to 60 percent but has repeatedly denied seeking a nuclear weapon. Officials maintain the UN sanctions lack legal basis, stressing that the JCPOA’s sunset provisions were set to expire on October 18.
On Sunday, Iran’s deputy foreign minister Abbas Araghchi said the West had “buried diplomacy and chosen bullying,” accusing the US and its allies of weaponizing the snapback mechanism for political gain.
Russia and China back Tehran
Both Russia and China strongly opposed the return of UN sanctions. At a UN Security Council session, Moscow dismissed the snapback as “null and void,” warning it would “seriously reconsider relations” with the Secretariat if enforcement proceeded.
In a show of solidarity, Russia and Iran signed a $25 billion memorandum to build nuclear power reactors, while China remains Iran’s largest buyer of discounted oil. Yet analysts question whether either power will risk secondary sanctions by deepening trade ties under the new UN restrictions.
The US, Israel, and Trump’s policy shift
Washington has taken a hard line under President Donald Trump, who returned to office in January. Critics say the United States has effectively outsourced its Iran strategy to Israel, which launched 12 days of devastating strikes in June that killed more than 1,000 people.
“The US has delegated its Iran policy to Israel since Trump has taken office,” said Ali Akbar Dareini of Tehran’s Center for Strategic Studies. “Christian evangelists and Zionists have been instrumental in convincing Trump to join the Israeli war of aggression against Iran.”
Israeli leaders openly welcomed the return of UN sanctions, arguing that Iran’s nuclear program represents an existential threat. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz went so far as to say Israel was “doing the dirty work” of the West during the June attacks.
Public anxiety and social control
Ordinary Iranians are bracing for more hardship under UN sanctions. Shoppers in Tehran reported panic buying of staples, while others expressed despair at the prospect of further economic pain. “When the dollar goes up, everything becomes unaffordable. It’s like we are suffocating,” said a schoolteacher in Tehran.
The Iranian judiciary, meanwhile, has cracked down on dissent, warning media outlets against “provocative content about price increases.” Several Telegram channels and websites have already been targeted for allegedly disturbing “psychological security.”
Iran’s options going forward
Analysts say Iran could retaliate against the UN sanctions by escalating its nuclear program. Options include halting inspections by the International Atomic Energy Agency, withdrawing from the Non-Proliferation Treaty, or ending compliance with safeguards.
“Iran has survived sanctions before and will circumvent them again,” Dareini noted, but he added that Tehran’s leadership faces difficult choices between defiance and domestic unrest.
Others argue that Iran may deepen ties with Russia, China, and sympathetic regional actors to offset the West’s pressure. However, the costs of isolation could intensify social unrest at home, especially if inflation worsens.
War fears loom large
Beyond economics, the UN sanctions have heightened fears of renewed conflict. Many Iranians worry Israel may use the sanctions as justification for another round of strikes, similar to its June campaign.
Some see the West’s strategy as part of a larger geopolitical effort. “America’s top priority is to contain China,” said Dareini. “Before doing that, it needs to reorder the Middle East with Israel on top. The big obstacle is Iran.”
For millions of Iranians, the sanctions signal not only economic pain but also the risk of war in a volatile region.
The UN sanctions snapback marks a turning point in Iran’s struggle with the West. While Tehran, Moscow, and Beijing reject the legality of the move, the practical impact on Iran’s economy and society is undeniable. The rial’s collapse, inflationary pressures, and widespread uncertainty reflect a nation under siege.
At the same time, the sanctions deepen regional tensions, with Israel emboldened and the US doubling down on a confrontational stance under Trump. For ordinary Iranians, the question is not only whether their government can withstand international pressure but also whether they can endure another round of hardship and the looming threat of war.
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