“They won’t stop us”: Iran’s President Pezeshkian pledges to resist UN sanctions ‘snapback’

DUBAI, Sept 21 — President Masoud Pezeshkian declared yesterday that Iran would resist any reimposition of UN sanctions through the so-called “snapback” mechanism, following the Security Council’s decision not to permanently lift sanctions on Tehran.

“Through the ‘snapback’ they try to block the path, but it is human ingenuity and thought that create and reopen the road,” Pezeshkian said, according to state television.

“They cannot stop us. They may strike Natanz or Fordow”—nuclear sites targeted by the US and Israel in June—“but they fail to realize it is humans who built and will rebuild Natanz,” he added.

The Security Council’s move follows Britain, France, and Germany initiating a 30-day procedure last month to reinstate sanctions, accusing Iran of violating the 2015 nuclear agreement designed to prevent the country from developing nuclear weapons. Iran denies any such intentions.

“We will never surrender to excessive demands because we have the capability to change the situation,” Pezeshkian told state media.

Under the snapback process, UN sanctions would automatically resume unless Tehran and key European powers reach an agreement to delay enforcement within roughly a week.

Separately, Iran’s Supreme National Security Council warned that the country’s cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency could be “effectively suspended” if UN sanctions are reinstated.

Earlier this month, Iran and the UN nuclear watchdog reported a deal to resume inspections at sites, including those attacked by the US and Israel, though details were not disclosed.

The snapback would reinstate an arms embargo, prohibit uranium enrichment and reprocessing, ban activities involving ballistic missiles capable of delivering nuclear weapons, and impose a global freeze on assets and travel for certain Iranian individuals and entities. — Reuters