Russia says return of UN sanctions on Iran risk fueling tensions

Russia slammed the UN Security Council’s vote to reimpose sanctions on Iran, saying the move was illegal and would only escalate tensions over Tehran’s nuclear program.

“The Russian side has repeatedly pointed out the provocative and illegal nature of the actions of the European countries participating in the JCPOA,” the Foreign Ministry said in a statement, referring to the 2015 nuclear accord.

“These actions have nothing to do with diplomacy and lead exclusively to a further escalation of tensions surrounding the Iranian nuclear program,” it added.