The United Nations reinstated an arms embargo and other sanctions on Iran on Saturday following a process triggered by key European powers that Tehran has warned will be met with a harsh response.
Britain, France and Germany triggered the return of sanctions on Iran at the UN Security Council over accusations the country has violated a 2015 deal that aimed to stop it developing a nuclear bomb. Iran denies seeking nuclear weapons.
The end of the decade-long nuclear deal originally negotiated by Iran, Britain, Germany, France, the United States, Russia and China is likely to exacerbate tensions in the Middle East, just months after Israel and the US bombed Iranian nuclear sites.
UN sanctions imposed by the UN Security Council between 2006 and 2010 were reinstated at 8 p.m. EDT Saturday. Attempts to delay the return of all sanctions on Iran failed on the sidelines of the annual gathering of world leaders at the UN this week.
"We urge Iran and all states to abide fully by these resolutions," the foreign ministers of France, Britain and Germany said in a joint statement after the deadline passed. However, Russia disputed the move.
"It is unlawful, and it cannot be implemented," Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov told reporters at the UN earlier on Saturday, adding that he had written to UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warning that it would be "a major mistake" for him to acknowledge a return of UN sanctions on Iran.
The European powers had offered to delay reinstating sanctions for up to six months to allow space for talks on a long-term deal if Iran restored access for UN nuclear inspectors, addressed concerns about its stock of enriched uranium, and engaged in talks with the United States.
"Our countries will continue to pursue diplomatic routes and negotiations. The reimposition of UN sanctions is not the end of diplomacy," the foreign ministers of Britain, France and Germany said. "We urge Iran to refrain from any escalatory action and to return to compliance with its legally binding safeguards obligations."
Iran defiant on restored sanctions as it recalls ambassador
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said the reimposition of global sanctions over Iran's nuclear program is "not like the sky is falling" as he headed home on Saturday from New York where he failed to convince Western powers to delay the move.
"It is not like the sky is falling. If we are weak they will crush us. But if we are united, there is no fear from this crisis," Pezeshkian told Iranian state television before leaving New York, where he was attending the United Nations General Assembly.
Iran denies seeking nuclear weapons.
Western countries to face "serious consequences," says Iran
It has warned Western countries they will face "serious consequences" for restoring the sanctions, but Pezeshkian has also said Iran has no intention of quitting the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.
Meanwhile, Iran's rial currency continued to decline over fears of new sanctions. The rial fell to 1,123,000 per US dollar, a new record low, on Saturday, from about 1,085,000 on Friday, according to foreign exchange websites, including Bon-bast.com.
Iran will again be subjected to an arms embargo and a ban on all uranium enrichment and reprocessing activities and any activity related to ballistic missiles capable of delivering nuclear weapons, including launches.
Other sanctions to be reimposed include a travel ban on dozens of Iranian individuals, an asset freeze on dozens of Iranian individuals and entities and a ban on the supply of anything that could be used in Iran's nuclear program.
All countries are authorized to seize and dispose of any items banned under UN sanctions and Iran will be prohibited from acquiring an interest in any commercial activity in another country involving uranium mining, production or use of nuclear materials and technology.