Iran has recalled its envoys to the United Kingdom, France, and Germany after the three European powers triggered a mechanism that reinstates United Nations sanctions on Tehran for the first time in 10 years.
According to state media reports on Saturday, September 27, 2025, the decision came in response to what Tehran called the “irresponsible action” of the European trio, known as the E3. The sanctions are set to take effect at 00:00 GMT on Sunday, reimposing wide-ranging restrictions on Iran’s nuclear, military, banking, and shipping industries.
The move follows the failure of Russia and China at the UN Security Council to block the sanctions revival. Only four countries supported their draft resolution, leaving the way clear for the snapback. The E3 began the process last month, accusing Iran of withholding transparency over its nuclear program. This included countermeasures taken after Israeli and US bombings during a 12-day conflict in June, which Iran says left over 1,000 people dead.
The sanctions news immediately sent Iran’s national currency, the rial, into free fall. It dropped to a record low of 1.1 million per US dollar in Tehran’s open market, underlining the severe economic pressure the country now faces.
Meanwhile, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) confirmed that some inspections resumed this week but declined to clarify whether this included sites targeted by US and Israeli strikes. Iran’s nuclear chief, Mohammad Eslami, criticized the UN watchdog for failing to condemn the attacks.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian dismissed the prospect of a compromise, insisting that Western powers were using sanctions to try to topple Iran’s theocratic system. “If the goal had been to resolve concerns on the nuclear programme, we could easily do that,” he said, reiterating that Iran would never pursue nuclear weapons.
For now, Iran appears determined to resist Western pressure, while Europe, the US, and their allies prepare for a new phase of confrontation with Tehran under the revived UN sanctions regime.
