The UN Security Council has reimposed all nuclear-related sanctions and restrictions against Iran following activation of the snapback mechanism by France, Germany and the UK, with the EU announcing immediate implementation, according to statements released on September 28.

The three European countries notified the UNSC on August 28 of Iran's significant non-compliance with its commitments under the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action. The snapback process concluded at 00:00 GMT on September 27, reinstating UN Security Council Resolutions 1696, 1737, 1747, 1803, 1835 and 1929.

China and Russia supported Iran's position, stating in letters before and after snapback activation that the E3 lacks the legal standing to use the mechanism; however, they were unable to stop the vote.

"Consequently, the European Union will now proceed to implement the re-imposition of all previously lifted UN and EU nuclear-related sanctions without delay," the EU's High Representative said.

The E3 foreign ministers said Iran holds enriched uranium quantities 48 times the JCPoA limit, according to the IAEA's September 4 report.

Iran's stockpile is entirely outside IAEA monitoring and includes 10 'Significant Quantities' of highly enriched uranium - 10 times the approximate amount for which the possibility of manufacturing a nuclear explosive device cannot be excluded.

"Iran has no credible civilian justification whatsoever for its HEU stockpile. No other country without a nuclear weapons programme enriches uranium to such levels and at this scale," the E3 statement said.

The European countries offered Iran a limited snapback extension in July 2025, provided Iran agreed to resume direct and unconditional negotiations with the United States, return to compliance with safeguards obligations, and address its highly enriched uranium stockpile. Iran did not engage seriously with the offer.

During the 30-day snapback process, Iran did not authorise IAEA inspectors to regain access to nuclear sites, nor produced a report accounting for its highly enriched uranium stockpile, despite extensive dialogue including during UN High-Level Week.

On September 19, the Security Council voted on a resolution that would have maintained sanctions-lifting on Iran. "The outcome of the vote was an unambiguous no," the E3 said.

The EU Coordinator of the JCPoA Joint Commission said the snapback "must not be the end of diplomacy with Iran on the nuclear issue, which remains a key challenge to regional and international security."

Both the EU and E3 stated that sustainable solutions can only be achieved through negotiation and diplomacy, urging Iran to fully resume cooperation with the IAEA in line with its legal obligations under the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons.

The sanctions reimposition comes as Iran's currency has hit record lows hitting more than IRR1.1mn for the first time against the US dollar.

Following the sanctions, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said Iran faces a choice between bowing to pressure or standing firm with new plans to resolve problems, Fararu reported on September 29.

"They want to sanction us because we are not willing to bow our heads before them, because we don't want to be humiliated. The idea of bringing Iran and our people to their knees is nothing but a dream and fantasy," Pezeshkian said during a ceremony marking Firefighters' Day.

"The choice is with our nation; either we must bow our heads, or we must stand, strive and devise a new plan to solve the problems," Pezeshkian said.

He accused adversaries of creating artificial expectations in society to pressure Iranians into complaining about problems. "We in the government will do everything in our power for the dignity and honour of the country. We are trying with all our strength to solve problems and will put everything we have in the service of the people," he said.

Pezeshkian criticised Western countries for their stance on Gaza, saying those who claim to support human rights and democracy remain silent whilst "innocent people are killed before their eyes and Israel attacks any country it wants without cost."

"They want to force us to give in to vile and wicked people, but I don't even have that thought in my mind," he said.

Iran's Foreign Minister challenged the legal validity of reimposed UN nuclear sanctions through detailed correspondence with the UN Secretary-General, arguing the European snapback mechanism was improperly invoked and no longer reflects ground realities, IRNA reported on September 29.

Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi's letters to UN Secretary-General António Guterres and the Security Council president outline several legal arguments contesting the E3's activation of the snapback mechanism.

Iran argues the E3 countries - France, Germany and the UK - effectively withdrew from the JCPOA through their declared policies and actions without formally announcing exit like the US, thus losing their right to invoke snapback under Resolution 2231.

Iran contends that even if the E3 were still considered JCPOA participants, they failed to complete the dispute resolution procedures outlined in Paragraph 36 of the agreement before submitting the snapback notification to the Security Council.

Iran's correspondence argues that illegal military attacks by Israel and the US against Iranian nuclear facilities have fundamentally changed circumstances, rendering previous resolutions obsolete and disconnected from current realities.