The European Union has reinstated wide-ranging sanctions on Iran following the United Nations’ activation of the snapback mechanism under the 2015 nuclear accord.
In a statement on Monday, the EU presidency said the move was in response to Tehran’s continued non-compliance with the agreement, though it stressed that “the door for diplomatic negotiations remains open.”
The renewed measures include freezing the assets of Iran’s Central Bank and other key financial institutions, imposing travel bans on senior officials, and banning the purchase and transport of Iranian crude oil. The EU also prohibited the sale of gold and specific naval equipment to Tehran.
These actions come after the UN Security Council over the weekend restored its own sanctions on Iran, citing repeated violations of nuclear and ballistic missile restrictions.
Tehran condemned the renewed restrictions as “unjustifiable,” warning they would further inflame tensions in the Middle East.
EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas, however, maintained that diplomacy was still possible, urging Iran to return to compliance and re-engage in talks to avoid deeper confrontation.