The protracted United Nations process regarding Iran’s nuclear program has reached its official conclusion. Iran, in collaboration with Russia and China, has formally notified UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres that Resolution 2231 has expired. The joint communication from the permanent missions of the three countries asserts that all provisions of Resolution 2231 are terminated as of October 18, 2025, referencing operative paragraph 8 of the resolution.
This declaration signifies the end of the Security Council’s active consideration of the Iranian nuclear issue. Resolution 2231 had previously provided the framework for the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), which lifted sanctions on Iran in return for limitations on its nuclear development. The JCPOA was hailed as a diplomatic success following extensive negotiations.
The agreement’s integrity was compromised in 2018 when the United States withdrew and reinstated sanctions, an action Iran and its allies deemed illegitimate. The US also failed in its subsequent attempt to reimpose sanctions through the JCPOA’s “snapback” mechanism in 2020. European nations—the UK, France, and Germany—also ceased their participation, citing unproven concerns about Iran’s nuclear activities. The IAEA has not corroborated these allegations despite extensive verification measures.
Earlier this year, the European signatories attempted to revive the snapback process, leading to renewed sanctions in September, which Iran, Russia, and China rejected as lacking legal basis. The allied nations’ letter to the UN pointed out that the European states’ own non-compliance with the JCPOA and their failure to use the dispute resolution mechanism disqualified them from invoking snapback provisions. They stressed that respecting the October 18 expiry date bolsters the authority of the UN Security Council and the principles of multilateral diplomacy.
In their concluding remarks, they urged global cooperation to cultivate conditions favorable for diplomatic initiatives. This formal closure marks the end of a decade-long dispute. For Iran and its partners, October 18, 2025, signifies the definitive end of the West’s established leverage concerning Iran’s nuclear program under the UN’s purview.