DUBAI, Sept 21 — With unwavering resolve, Iran’s newly elected president, Masoud Pezeshkian, declared that his country will not be broken by the threat of reimposed international sanctions. His statement comes after a pivotal move by the UN Security Council, which chose not to permanently lift sanctions against Tehran.
“Through the ‘snapback,’ they block the road, but it is the brains and the thoughts that open or build the road,” Pezeshkian said, his voice carried across the nation via state television. He emphasized that even if their nuclear sites — Natanz and Fordow — were attacked, as reportedly done by the US and Israel in June, Iran’s strength lies not just in its infrastructure, but in its people.
“They cannot stop us,” he said firmly. “They can strike our nuclear installations, but they are unaware that it is humans who built and will rebuild Natanz.”
This powerful assertion came in response to the latest UN Security Council decision, influenced by Britain, France, and Germany, who initiated a 30-day mechanism to restore sanctions. Their reasoning? Iran allegedly breached the terms of the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) — a landmark agreement designed to curtail Iran’s nuclear ambitions. Tehran continues to deny these claims, insisting it has no intention of developing nuclear weapons.
President Pezeshkian stood defiant. “We will never surrender in the face of excessive demands because we have the power to change the situation,” he stated, as quoted by state media.
Meanwhile, tensions escalate. Iran’s Supreme National Security Council has warned that if sanctions return, its cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) will be “effectively suspended.”
This warning casts a shadow over a recent breakthrough — earlier this month, Iran and the IAEA announced progress on restarting inspections, even at sensitive sites previously targeted by military strikes. But so far, no clear details have emerged.
Should the “snapback” mechanism fully activate, it would reinstate strict international penalties: a renewed arms embargo, a ban on uranium enrichment and missile activities, global asset freezes, and travel bans on Iranian officials and businesses.
