#un-sanctions

#un-sanctions

A final Russian attempt to defer the snapback of large-scale UN sanctions on Iran is expected to fail at the UN security council on Friday after European countries rejected last-minute Iranian offers to give UN weapons inspectors limited access to its bombed nuclear sites. Russia will call for the reimposition of the sanctions to be deferred for six months to give more time for diplomacy, but European diplomats are confident that Russia will not get the nine votes it needs.

UN sanctions on Iran are set to be re-established at the end of the month unless the nine-member security council agrees to further extend sanctions relief. Friday's resolution, put forth by South Korea, only received support from four countries China, Russia, Pakistan and Algeria. The vote is likely to further strain relations between Iran and the west.

Tehran and the UN nuclear inspectorate have reached an agreement that will allow UN inspectors to return to inspect all of Iran's nuclear sites, including those bombed by Israel and the US in June. The breakthrough, confirmed by Rafael Grossi, the director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency, came during a three-hour meeting on Monday between Grossi and the Iranian foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi, in Cairo.

The EU will initiate the reinstatement of UN sanctions on Iran if no progress on its nuclear programme is made by 29 August. France and partners aim to reapply embargos on arms, banks, and nuclear equipment, indicating the need for a tangible commitment from Iran.

Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi warned that the snapback of UN sanctions would end Europe's role in the Iranian nuclear dossier, emphasizing the seriousness of the situation.