TEHRAN — With UN sanctions set to be reinstated on Sept. 28, Iran mounted an intense diplomatic push in New York this week while hinting at nuclear escalation at home. But the flurry of meetings failed to stop the imposition of the snapback mechanism, leaving Tehran weighing a range of options from further diplomacy to more aggressive nuclear signaling.

Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi held a series of meetings on the sidelines of this year’s UN General Assembly, engaging European counterparts, Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency Rafael Grossi, and ministers from Asia, Europe and Africa. He warned that the return of sanctions would deal a "severe blow" to diplomacy and undermine the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT).

According to Iran's state-run IRNA news agency, Araghchi pressed counterparts from Brazil, South Korea and Slovenia to oppose the European-led snapback triggered by France, Germany and the UK — known as the E3. He described the European efforts as "unjustified and unlawful."

President Masoud Pezeshkian, who was also in New York this week, stressed that Iran is "fully prepared for any scenario" and that policies would be "readjusted to the new situation accordingly." He cautioned that nuclear talks would "become pointless" if sanctions are reinstated, and he reiterated Tehran’s denial of nuclear weapons ambitions.