The United Nations Security Council holding a meeting on Iran at UN headquarters on September 19, 2025, in New York. ANGELA WEISS / AFP
The United Nations Security Council voted on Friday, September 19, to reimpose deep economic sanctions on Iran over its resurgent nuclear program after Britain, France and Germany called for action. The three European nations are signatories to a 2015 deal known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) intended to stop Tehran obtaining nuclear weapons. The trio alleged that Iran has broken its promises under the treaty.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said on Friday he had put forward a "fair and balanced" proposal to European powers to prevent the return of sanctions. "We urge [Iran] to act now," said British ambassador Barbara Woodward after casting a vote against a resolution that would have extended the current suspension of the sanctions. She left the door open for diplomacy at the UN general assembly next week, when heads of state and government will gather in New York.
Read more Iran sanctions on nuclear program likely to be reinstated by month's end, says Macron
Ahead of the vote, French President Emmanuel Macron said in an Israeli television interview that he expected international sanctions to be reinstated by the end of the month. But the French ambassador to the UN said Friday that the option of a negotiated settlement was still on the table.
