United Nations sanctions on Iran over its nuclear programme were reimposed on Sunday, putting Tehran under new pressure as tensions remain high in the wider Mideast over the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza.

At the UN General Assembly this week in New York, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi tried a last-minute diplomatic push to stop the sanctions. However, Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei , boxed in their efforts by describing diplomacy with the United States as a “sheer dead end.” Meanwhile, efforts by China and Russia to halt the sanctions failed on Friday.

A 30-day clock for the sanctions started when France, Germany and the United Kingdom on Aug. 28 declared Iran wasn’t complying with its 2015 nuclear deal with world powers.

Tehran has

See Full Page