Iran’s oil minister says UN sanctions will not curb crude sales

An Iranian lawmaker said on Wednesday that the return of UN sanctions through the “snapback” mechanism would have little effect on the country, arguing that Western leverage over Tehran has run out.

Abolfazl Aboutorabi, a member of parliament’s internal affairs committee, said the European move showed the West was “untrustworthy despite Iran’s commitment to diplomacy.”

He cited divisions within the UN Security Council, the limited scope of UN sanctions compared with US measures, and Iran’s adaptation to years of restrictions.

Aboutorabi also pointed to “stabilized oil customers, growing de-dollarization in oil trade, and the end of effective Western pressure levers against Iran.”

Britain, France and Germany triggered the 30-day “snapback” process on August 28, accusing Iran of breaching the 2015 nuclear deal. If no agreement is reached, restrictions including an arms embargo, asset freezes and bans on nuclear-related technology will return at the end of the month.

The move would also provide a legal basis for the EU and Britain to reimpose banking, shipping and energy curbs.

But as Reuters’ columnist Ron Bousso writes, past experience shows Western sanctions have had limited lasting impact on Iranian oil flows.

Exports collapsed to 444,000 barrels per day (bpd) in 2020 after Washington reimposed sanctions but have since rebounded to 1.6 million bpd this year, with nearly 80% going to China, according to data from analytics firm Kpler.

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Despite years of US efforts to expand restrictions on tankers, traders and refiners, Iran has developed an opaque network of intermediaries, uninsured vessels and ship-to-ship transfers to keep crude flowing.

“These whack-a-mole efforts have had little and often short-lived impact,” Bousso wrote.

Analysts say the snapback may deter some Asian buyers but not Beijing, which has already defied Western sanctions by importing sanctioned Russian LNG cargoes. Chinese refiners could even gain leverage to secure Iranian oil at steeper discounts, further undermining the effectiveness of Western sanctions.

The oil and petrochemical sector contributed roughly a quarter of Iran’s GDP in 2024, making continued exports critical to Tehran’s economy as sanctions loom.

China’s ambassador to Tehran said sanctions will not resolve disputes over Iran’s nuclear program, stressing that “dialogue is the only solution.”

Cong Peiwu added that Beijing would “play a constructive role” to help address the issue through cooperation.

An Iranian lawmaker on the parliament’s National Security Committee denounced the activation of the UN snapback sanctions mechanism as “shameless,” warning Tehran would not surrender and must manage the consequences.

Rouhollah Nejabat, a member of the committee’s presidium, said Europe’s decision was a “disgraceful political game,” adding, “If Iran has not complied with its JCPOA commitments for 10 years, then why was the activation delayed until the final minutes?”

He added that the snapback mechanism was “feeble” from both a military and security standpoint.

Lindsay and Craig Foreman, from East Sussex, were arrested during a motorcycle world tour and accused of spying -- allegations they deny. Their son, Joe Bennett, said the pair were enduring “survival conditions” and urged the UK government to act.

The BBC reported that the couple’s family said they were “in the dark” about the upcoming court appearance, with their son confirming they had only been told the pair were due in court on Saturday.

“The systematic harassment and violations must stop. They need real, tangible support for their court appearances and to ensure proper medical attention, regular family contact and the urgent securing of their release,” Bennett said in a statement.

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  British couple detained in Iran taken to court without notice, family says

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  Iranian authorities tortured British couple in prison, source says

Rights groups and a source familiar with the case have alleged the couple were held in solitary confinement, beaten and threatened with execution by Iranian intelligence agents seeking forced confessions.

The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office said it was “deeply concerned” and continued to raise the case with Iranian authorities.

Britain has repeatedly rejected Tehran’s charges and pressed for the couple’s release. Western governments and rights organizations say Iran has a history of detaining foreign nationals as leverage in disputes, an accusation Tehran denies.