New Iran sanctions: Tehran wants to react “determined”

After the recovery of UN sanctions against Iran and its nuclear program, the Islamic Republic has announced a “determined and appropriate” reaction. “The Islamic Republic of Iran will decisively defend its rights and national interests and that every measure that turns against the interests and rights of their people will result in a decisive and reasonable answer,” says the Foreign Ministry in Tehran to the criminal measures that came back into force.

In the night of Sunday, the deadline of the so-called snapback mechanism started by Germany, France and Great Britain. The UN sanctions against Iran, which was reduced according to the 2015 nuclear agreement, were again put into force.

For decades, the West has been a dispute with the Islamic Republic over its nuclear program. Israel, the United States and European countries, accuse Iran of striving for nuclear weapons. The Iranian leadership rejects this and also refers to a religious legal opinion by head of state Ajatollah Ali Chamenei, according to which weapons of mass destruction are prohibited.

Iran is already proven with hard sanctions, which are primarily aimed at the energy sector of the oil and gas-rich country. In addition, the country is largely cut off from international payments. With almost 90 million inhabitants, the sanctions plunged the state into a severe economic crisis. It mainly hits the poor population and a dwindling middle class.

For the country, the UN sanctions are likely to mean further economic difficulties. However, it is doubtful whether all countries adhere to the punitive measures. The Russian vice ambassador to the UN, Dmitri Poljanski, had already stated in advance that his country regarded the reintroduction of punitive measures as “zero and void”.

Israel had waged war against Iran for twelve days in June and bombed central facilities of the nuclear program together with the United States, including the underground Fordo facility. In the event of reintroduction of the UN sanctions, Iran threatens counter reactions. Conservative forces in the country demanded, for example, the exit from the nuclear weapons lock contract. However, it is unclear whether the leadership actually goes. In this case, observers expect a significantly increased risk of escalation with the West and the risk of new Israeli attacks.