The reimposition of all UN sanctions on Iran marks a critical escalation in the long-standing nuclear crisis. Triggered by European powers and vehemently opposed by Tehran, the “snapback” effectively collapses the 2015 nuclear deal’s framework.

Iran has condemned Western demands as “humiliating” and recalled its ambassadors from Germany, France, and the UK in a significant diplomatic protest. The move exacerbates Iran’s economic turmoil, sending its rial to a historic low against the dollar.

While President Pezeshkian insists Iran does not seek conflict, the nation’s leaders vow to continue its nuclear program unabated, even as Israel and Western powers push for maximum pressure. This hardening of positions, coupled with reports of expanded secret nuclear construction, dangerously narrows the path for diplomacy, raising the specter of a deeper confrontation.

The international community is now starkly divided, with the sanctions’ return signaling a return to a policy of isolation rather than negotiation.