TEHERAN / UNITED NATIONS - Iran's Foreign Ministry said on Sunday it considers the action taken by France, Britain and Germany, collectively known as the E3, and the United States, to reinstate the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) sanction resolutions on Iran as "illegal and unjustified."

The ministry made the announcement in a statement, hours after UN sanctions against Iran came back into force 10 years after having been lifted under a 2015 nuclear deal, formally known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), between the country and world powers.

It said that Iran "rejects the claim by the three European countries and the United States about the reinstatement of the previous resolutions that have been terminated under Resolution 2231 (that endorses the JCPOA) in 2015, and stresses that no obligation arises for UN members, including Iran, from the annulled resolutions' provisions and mechanisms."

ALSO READ: Iran slams US, Europe as nuclear deal sanctions set to resume

The statement called on all countries to refrain from recognizing the "illegal situation, which is in contradiction with UNSC Resolution 2231," accusing the E3 and the United States of "abusing" the dispute resolution mechanism of the JCPOA and Resolution 2231.

According to the statement, Iran will firmly defend its rights and national interests, and any move aimed at harming those interests "will be met with an appropriate and resolute response."

In a letter addressed to UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Saturday, Iran's Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi said the invocation of the "snapback" mechanism to reinstate the UN sanctions was a "clear abuse of process," according to the ministry.

READ MORE: Iranian president meets European leaders, says ready to address nuclear concerns

Last month, the E3 formally invoked the snapback mechanism, which allowed for the re-imposition of UN sanctions within 30 days if Iran was deemed in breach of the JCPOA.

On September 19, the UNSC failed to adopt a resolution that would have extended sanctions relief for Iran under the JCPOA. A subsequent resolution, which sought to grant a six-month extension to both the JCPOA and Resolution 2231, also failed to pass in the UNSC on Friday. The sanctions were re-imposed on Saturday evening.  

UN confirms reactivation of sanctions 

The United Nations confirmed on Sunday that sanctions against Iran have been reactivated.

READ MORE: Iran, Russia sign MoU on building small nuclear power plants

"Pursuant to the process set forth in paragraphs 11 and 12 of Security Council resolution 2231 (2015), effective on 27 September at 8 pm Eastern Daylight Time, all provisions of resolutions 1696 (2006), 1737 (2006), 1747 (2007), 1803 (2008), 1835 (2008) and 1929 (2010) have been re-applied in the same manner as they applied before the adoption of resolution 2231 (2015) on 20 July 2015," said a note to correspondents from the Office of the Spokesperson for the UN Secretary-General.

The note said that accordingly, the sanctions list maintained by the Security Council Committee established pursuant to resolution 1737 has been re-established and includes 43 individuals and 78 entities that were listed before the adoption of resolution 2231.

The note listed the individuals and entities that have been added back to the United Nations Security Council Consolidated Sanctions List.