Iran condemns UN sanctions as “unjustifiable”

Iran on Sunday denounced the reinstatement of United Nations sanctions over its nuclear program, calling the move “unjustifiable” following the collapse of talks with Western powers and recent 'Israeli' and US strikes on Iranian nuclear sites.

The renewed measures, which target Iran’s nuclear and ballistic missile activities, came into effect overnight after Western powers invoked the “snapback” mechanism under the 2015 nuclear agreement.

“The reactivation of annulled resolutions is legally baseless and unjustifiable... all countries must refrain from recognising this illegal situation,” the Iranian foreign ministry said in a statement.

“The Islamic Republic of Iran will firmly defend its national rights and interests, and any action aimed at undermining the rights and interests of its people will face a firm and appropriate response,” the statement added.

The sanctions mark the end of months of tense diplomatic efforts to revive nuclear negotiations, which were disrupted in June following 'Israeli' and US airstrikes on Iranian nuclear facilities.

Despite the sanctions, Western leaders emphasized that dialogue channels remain open. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio urged Iran to “accept direct talks, held in good faith,” while calling on UN member states to enforce the measures promptly to “pressure Iran’s leaders to do what is right for their nation, and best for the safety of the world.”

Read more: UN reimposes sanctions on Iran as nuclear deal collapses

The foreign ministers of Britain, France, and Germany issued a joint statement reaffirming their commitment to finding “a new diplomatic solution to ensure Iran never gets a nuclear weapon” and urged Tehran “to refrain from any escalatory action.”

Iran had previously allowed UN inspectors to return to its nuclear sites, but President Masoud Pezeshkian criticized a US proposal requiring Iran to surrender its entire stockpile of enriched uranium, calling it unacceptable.

Efforts by Russia and China to delay the sanctions until April failed in a UN Security Council vote on Friday, resulting in the measures taking effect at 3:30 AM Tehran time (0000 GMT) on Sunday. Germany, which led the push alongside Britain and France, argued that Iran’s noncompliance left “no choice.”

“For us, it is imperative: Iran must never acquire a nuclear weapon,” German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul told the UN General Assembly. “But let me emphasise: we remain open to negotiations on a new agreement. Diplomacy can and should continue.”

Russia, however, announced it would not enforce the sanctions, labeling them invalid. “The sanctions finally exposed the West's policy of sabotaging the pursuit of constructive solutions in the UN Security Council, as well as its desire to extract unilateral concessions from Tehran through blackmail and pressure,” Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said.

Iran has long maintained that it is not pursuing nuclear weapons. The snapback sanctions reinstate measures that had been suspended in 2015 when Iran agreed to major limitations on its nuclear program under a deal negotiated during President Barack Obama’s administration.

Following the sanctions, Iran recalled its envoys from Britain, France, and Germany for consultations, state television reported Saturday. On the ground, many Iranians expressed concern over the economic impact of the renewed measures.

“The current (economic) situation was already very difficult, but it’s going to get worse,” said Dariush, a 50-year-old engineer. “The impact of the renewed sanctions is already evident: the exchange rate is increasing, and this is leading to higher prices,” he added, noting that the standard of living has declined compared to two or three years ago.

On the black market, the US dollar was trading at approximately 1.12 million rials on Saturday, a record high according to multiple currency-tracking websites.