Why it matters:
The failure to pass this resolution places the international community in a sensitive situation, with potential consequences for the future of the JCPOA and the broader geopolitical landscape regarding Iran’s nuclear program.
The big picture:
The draft resolution sought to maintain the suspension of sanctions against Iran as part of the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA). This measure was intended to prevent the immediate reinstatement of sanctions previously suspended under the deal. However, it did not receive sufficient support in the council.
Go deeper:
In recent months, the U.S. and Israel have increased political and military pressures affecting Iran’s nuclear facilities. Simultaneously, the three European powers have advanced the snapback mechanism, a process under UN Resolution 2231 that allows for the reinstatement of sanctions. Unless blocked by a Security Council resolution, the mechanism could lead to renewed sanctions within 30 days.
Although the draft resolution’s failure means the snapback mechanism will not be triggered immediately, the European powers retain the ability to implement it within the remaining 8-day window.
Russia emphasized that the European efforts to reimpose sanctions on Iran lack legal basis, highlighting that countries which signed the JCPOA do not have the unilateral right to reinstate UN sanctions.
Hossein Amiri - ahmad shirzadian
