US defies world to say Iran UN sanctions back in force

WASHINGTON: The United States unilaterally proclaimed on Saturday that United Nations sanctions against Iran were back in force and promised to punish those who violate them, in a move other major countries said lacked legal basis.

The so-called snapback — announced last month — also drew a sharp rebuke from Teheran, which called on the rest of the world to unite against US “reckless actions”.

“Today, the US welcomes the return of virtually all previously terminated UN sanctions on the Islamic Republic of Iran,” Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said.

He said the measures were back in effect starting 8pm Washington time.

The Trump administration also promised to “impose consequences” on any UN member state which did not comply with the measures.

The sanctions in question were lifted in 2015 when Iran signed an international agreement not to seek to build nuclear weapons.

But President Donald Trump withdrew the US from the landmark accord in 2018, saying the deal was insufficient. He then renewed and even strengthened Washington’s own sanctions.

At the moment, the US is insisting it was still a participant in the agreement that it stormed out of, but only so it could activate the snapback option, which it announced on Aug 20.

Yesterday, two permanent council members — France and Britain — issued a joint statement along with non-permanent member Germany saying Pompeo’s “purported notification” was “incapable of having any legal effect”.

Russia’s foreign ministry also said Washington’s statements lacked legal authority.

“The illegitimate initiatives and actions of the US by definition cannot have international legal consequences for other countries,” it said.