Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian addresses the 80th United Nations General Assembly at the UN headquarters in New York City on September 24, 2025. Jeenah Moon/Reuters

Iran is set to face so-called “snapback” sanctions at a time of high tension in the Middle East, but what does that mean?

The term is used for the reimposition of sanctions against Iran a decade after they were suspended as part of a landmark deal to limit and monitor the country’s controversial nuclear program.

Several European powers accuse Iran of not meeting its obligations under the agreement. But the move could mean Tehran moves even further away from international oversight of its nuclear program.

How did we get here?

Sanctions were due to end permanently on October 18. But the original agreement, known as t

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