Spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei said Iran has made "considerable efforts" to avert the move, citing ongoing talks with the European parties to the 2015 nuclear deal – France, Britain and Germany (the E3) – in Geneva and consultations with other UN Security Council members.

The discussions are focused on lifting sanctions and the future of Resolution 2231, which endorses the nuclear accord, Baghaei said, adding that Tehran will continue to demonstrate transparency about the peaceful nature of its nuclear program.