Restores Arms Embargo and Asset Freeze
By Emmanuel Thomas I
September 28, 2025
WASHINGTON — Full United Nations sanctions against Iran, including a conventional arms embargo and restrictions on ballistic missile technology, have officially been reimposed, Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced late Saturday evening.
The move, known as “snapback,” marks the latest escalation in the Trump administration’s “maximum pressure” campaign against Tehran.
In a press statement released at 8:00 p.m. EDT, Secretary Rubio confirmed that the U.N. had reactivated sanctions and restrictions from six previous Security Council resolutions, citing Iran’s “continuing ‘significant non-performance’ of its nuclear commitments.”
The snapback concludes a process initiated by the United States on August 28, and according to Mr. Rubio, was supported by “decisive global leadership on the part of France, Germany, and the United Kingdom.”
The restored provisions are comprehensive, addressing Iran’s nuclear, ballistic missile, conventional arms, and regional destabilizing activities.
Notably, they prohibit uranium enrichment, reimpose a ban on conventional arms exports to Iran, and authorize a global asset freeze and travel bans on listed individuals and entities.
Furthermore, the measures ban Iran from using ballistic missile technology and authorize the seizure of prohibited cargo being transferred to state and non-state actors.
“The Security Council’s decision on September 19—reaffirmed on September 26—to restore these restrictions sends a clear message: the world will not acquiesce to threats and half measures—and Tehran will be held to account,” Secretary Rubio stated.
While celebrating the return of the restrictions, the administration maintained that a diplomatic off-ramp remains possible.
“President Trump has been clear that diplomacy is still an option—a deal remains the best outcome for the Iranian people and the world,” Mr. Rubio said, adding that Iran must “accept direct talks, held in good faith, without stalling or obfuscation.”
The Secretary of State concluded by calling on international partners to “implement snapback sanctions immediately in order to pressure Iran’s leaders to do what is right for their nation, and best for the safety of the world.”
The reimposition of the international measures comes after years of heightened tension following the U.S. withdrawal from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), or Iran nuclear deal, in 2018.
The diplomatic maneuvering to restore the sanctions has been a contentious issue among the permanent members of the U.N. Security Council.
