UN Security Council Fails to Extend Sanctions Waiver on Iran, Triggering

New York, September 19, 2025 ——

The United Nations Security Council on Thursday failed to adopt a draft resolution that would have extended the waiver of sanctions on Iran, greatly increasing the likelihood of sanctions being reimposed.

Voting Results

The draft resolution, aimed at preventing the reimposition of sanctions, was rejected with 4 votes in favor, 9 against, and 2 abstentions.
• In favor: Russia, China, Pakistan, Algeria
• Against: United States, United Kingdom, France, Denmark, Greece, Panama, Sierra Leone,Slovenia, Somalia
• Abstentions: Guyana, Republic of Korea

According to the rules, if no agreement is reached by 8:00 p.m. New York time on September 27, UN sanctions on Iran will automatically be reinstated.

Background:JCPOA and the Snapback Mechanism

• The Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) was signed in 2015 and entered into force in 2016. It was designed to ensure Iran’s nuclear program remained peaceful while gradually lifting sanctions.

• The agreement includes a 'snapback' provision: if Iran is deemed non-compliant, any participant can trigger the mechanism to reimpose UN sanctions within 30 days, without
requiring a new vote.

• On August 28, France, Germany, and the United Kingdom formally requested activation of this mechanism, citing Iran’s non-compliance. On September 8, South Korea, as Council president, submitted a draft resolution to extend the waiver. On September 19, the draft was put to a vote and failed.

Heated Exchanges

• Russia: Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia argued that the move by the three European states was “illegal,” without legal or procedural basis, and accused them of failing to meet their
own obligations while punishing Iran.

• China: Ambassador Fu Cong stressed that the current crisis stemmed from the United States’ unilateral withdrawal from the JCPOA, its reimposition of sanctions, and even
military strikes on Iranian facilities. He urged Washington to rejoin talks, pledge not to use force, and resume unconditional negotiations.

• UK & France: British Ambassador Barbara Woodward insisted the snapback mechanism was “legal, reasonable, and fully justified.” French Ambassador Nicolas de Rivière emphasized that Iran’s stockpile of enriched uranium far exceeds JCPOA limits and that it has restricted IAEA access to key facilities, making the snapback essential to uphold non-proliferation.

Outlook

With just over a week remaining until the deadline, failure to reach an agreement would trigger the automatic return of UN sanctions on Iran.

This could mean:
1. For Iran’s economy: A renewed impact from financial and energy sanctions, deepening
economic strain.

2. For nuclear diplomacy: Further erosion of trust between Iran and European states,making talks harder to restart.

3. For international security: Heightened tensions in the Middle East and new pressure on the global non-proliferation regime.

Thursday’s vote has effectively set the countdown for sanctions snapback in motion. The coming week of diplomacy will determine whether Iran faces renewed international sanctions or finds a compromise to preserve the agreement framework. We will continue to follow developments closely.