Iran Vows Retaliation Over UN Snapback Sanctions on Nuclear Deal Anniversary

Iran has issued a stark warning to the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), vowing to retaliate if 'snapback' sanctions are imposed as tensions over its nuclear ambitions escalate. On the 10th anniversary of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Esmaeil Baghaei, declared that any move to reimpose sanctions would be met with a 'proportionate response,' though specifics of this retaliation remain unclear.

The JCPOA, signed in 2015, was meant to curb Iran’s nuclear program, but its effectiveness has long been debated. Under the deal, any signatory can trigger snapback sanctions if Iran violates terms, yet no nation has acted despite urgent calls—particularly from the U.S.—to do so before the October 18 deadline. The mechanism, which would force all 15 UNSC members to reimpose sanctions, is a high-stakes gamble. Experts like Behnam Ben Taleblu from the Foundation for Defense of Democracies warn that Iran could abandon the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) in response, a move that would further destabilize global security.

Complicating matters, the U.S. withdrew from the JCPOA in 2018, leaving its ability to trigger sanctions in question. Meanwhile, European signatories like the U.K., France, and Germany hesitate, wary of the geopolitical fallout without a clear post-sanction strategy. Time is ticking, and with Russia set to assume the UNSC presidency in October, the window for action narrows.

Despite recent setbacks to its nuclear program—reportedly delayed by up to two years due to U.S. and Israeli strikes—Iran’s ambitions remain a pressing concern. Its ties to adversarial networks only heighten the stakes. President Trump has signaled willingness to negotiate, but patience may wear thin if no European nation steps up soon. Will the world wait for Iran to call the next bluff, or will someone finally pull the trigger on sanctions?