NEW YORK – The UN Security Council is set to vote Friday on whether to reimpose sanctions on Iran over its nuclear program, after Britain, France, and Germany accused Tehran of breaching the 2015 nuclear deal.
The three European powers, signatories to the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), argue that Iran has violated key commitments under the accord, including amassing uranium stockpiles more than 40 times above the agreed limits.
Diplomatic sources say the resolution is unlikely to secure the nine affirmative votes needed to maintain the current status quo, in which sanctions remain lifted.
If the draft fails, punitive measures against Tehran are expected to be reinstated.
The Council’s rotating presidency confirmed the vote will take place Friday morning at 10 a.m. (1400 GMT).
The 2015 deal—intended to prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons—has steadily unraveled since the United States unilaterally withdrew under then-President Donald Trump in 2018 and reimposed sweeping sanctions.
Tehran responded by gradually scaling back its obligations and accelerating its nuclear activities.
Tensions have escalated further since June’s 12-day war between Iran and Israel, which disrupted negotiations with Washington and led Iran to halt cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
UN inspectors from the Vienna-based watchdog were forced to leave the country shortly afterward.
In a letter to the UN in August, the so-called “European Three” accused Tehran of “persistent and serious” breaches of the JCPOA, saying its actions “strike at the heart of the agreement’s credibility.”
The outcome of Friday’s vote could mark a pivotal moment in global efforts to contain Iran’s nuclear ambitions, with divisions among world powers likely to shape the next phase of diplomacy in the Middle East.
