Iran Nuclear Talks Collapse, UN Sanctions to Be Reinstated Tonight

By Steve Rey – The New York Diplomat

Paris / Tehran / New York – Last-minute negotiations between European powers and Iran to salvage the 2015 nuclear deal have failed. United Nations sanctions, suspended for several years, are set to be formally reinstated on Saturday night.

Talks Break Down

European diplomats had hoped to convince Tehran to freeze uranium enrichment and accept stronger inspections of its nuclear facilities in exchange for partial sanctions relief. However, the two sides remained at an impasse.

In a strong diplomatic move, Iran announced it was recalling its ambassadors from France, Germany, and the United Kingdom “for consultations,” signaling a major breakdown in trust with Europe.

“This is a major rupture in relations between Iran and the West,” said Dr. Karim Sadjadpour, an Iran expert. “Tehran believes the current framework fails to guarantee its economic and security interests.”

Sanctions Return

The reinstated sanctions, coming into force at midnight, will target Iran’s oil sector, international banking transactions, and military procurement networks. Global energy markets are expected to feel immediate disruptions, potentially impacting oil prices as early as next week.

Regional Tensions

The breakdown comes as the region faces heightened tensions: intensified Israeli strikes in Gaza, Hezbollah’s strategic shifts in Lebanon, and sharp rhetoric at the United Nations.

“The failure of these talks will embolden the most hardline factions in several capitals,” said Dorothée Schmid, analyst at IFRI. “It could trigger new escalations in Syria, Iraq, and Yemen.”

Outlook

Diplomats now see little chance of a quick return to negotiations.

“This may mark the official end of the JCPOA,” one senior European official told The New York Diplomat, referring to the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, the formal name of the 2015 nuclear accord.