Iran has recalled its envoys to the United Kingdom, France, and Germany in protest against the reimposition of United Nations sanctions, which officially take effect on Sunday.

According to state media, the decision followed what Tehran described as the “irresponsible action” of the European trio (E3) to reinstate UN Security Council resolutions that had been lifted under the 2015 nuclear deal.

The move came after Russia and China failed to secure a delay at the UN Security Council, where their draft resolution was backed by only four members.

The revived sanctions will bar global cooperation with Iran in nuclear, military, banking, and shipping sectors.

Impact on Iran’s economy

The announcement triggered further pressure on Iran’s fragile economy. On Saturday, the rial plunged to a new record low, trading at more than 1.1 million per US dollar in Tehran’s open market.

The sanctions are expected to deepen economic pain already felt by ordinary Iranians, although enforcement will depend on global compliance.

Nuclear oversight and tensions

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) confirmed that some inspections at Iranian sites resumed this week but did not clarify whether they included locations bombed by the US and Israel earlier this year.

Iran’s nuclear chief Mohammad Eslami criticized the IAEA for failing to condemn those attacks, reiterating Tehran’s claim that it has no intention of pursuing nuclear weapons.

President Masoud Pezeshkian accused the US and Israel of trying to destabilize Iran’s political system through mounting pressure, rejecting any new compromise under current conditions.

International reactions

Western diplomats said Iran’s last-minute proposals to defer the snapback lacked substance, prompting the E3 to move ahead.

Meanwhile, Moscow called the sanctions “null and void,” while China has continued to import Iranian oil despite US pressure.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, speaking at the UN General Assembly, urged no delay in enforcing the measures and hinted at further action against Iran’s nuclear programme.