Iran Reaffirms Commitment to Nuclear Negotiations and Rejects Washington's Threats
Iran's Foreign Ministry announced Tehran's continued cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) within the framework of understandings reached to clarify certain ambiguities.
Tehran has refused the recent U.S. threats to take action against Iran if it fails to cooperate with international inspectors.
Nasser Kanani, the Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson, protested the position of the U.S. representative at the IAEA Board of Governors during the meeting last week in Vienna. The United States and its European allies the United Kingdom, France, and Germany once again chose not to seek a resolution against Iran at the IAEA's quarterly meeting. However, the U.S. declared it would act if Iran does not provide necessary cooperation soon.
Washington has indicated that it will take future action against Iran at the IAEA's June meeting if Tehran continues to "obstruct" the agency's work by refusing to cooperate and not providing requested information on longstanding issues, including unexplained uranium traces.
The U.S. called on Iran to collaborate with the IAEA, including permitting access for environmental sampling, and urged Iran to start this process immediately. Failure to do so would result in the U.S. requesting a "comprehensive report" from IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi on Iran's nuclear activities, potentially exceeding his usual quarterly reports.
In response to the latest U.S. position, Kanani remarked that the "non-technical and baseless" statements have no impact on Iran's decisions and will in this matter. He stated that "America, as a violator of the nuclear agreement and many international laws, has no standing to comment on Iran's peaceful nuclear activities."
A Week Prior: UN Warning
A week earlier, IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi renewed his call at the Board of Governors meeting for Iran's "general cooperation." Grossi expressed deep regret over Iran's decision not to reverse the withdrawal of the designations of several experienced agency inspectors and stressed that issues could only be addressed through constructive and meaningful participation. Iran has since significantly reduced inspections, disconnected monitoring cameras, and withdrew the accreditation of a group of experts, actions that escalated under Joe Biden's U.S. presidency since January 2021.
More than a year has passed since the IAEA Board of Governors issued a resolution requiring Iran's cooperation with the agency's years-long investigation into uranium particles. Tehran has dismissed the resolution as "political" and "anti-Iranian," with only China and Russia opposing it.
Grossi also reiterated his concern about the risks of nuclear proliferation. Despite not having evidence of Iran building a nuclear bomb, Grossi takes seriously statements like those made in February by former Foreign Minister and ex-head of the Iranian Atomic Energy Organization, Ali Akbar Salehi, who claimed Iran had the "scientific and technical capabilities" for a nuclear weapon. Grossi emphasized Iran's unique position outside the nuclear-armed states' club, enriching uranium at 60% purity and storing significant quantities, approaching the 90% required for military use.
Nuclear Negotiations
Former U.S. President Donald Trump withdrew from the 2015 nuclear agreement in 2018, which imposed sanctions on Iran in exchange for nuclear restrictions. Following the reimposition of sanctions, Iran expanded its nuclear activities far beyond the agreement's limits.
In September 2022, the talks between Tehran and world powers to revive the agreement reached a deadlock, which started with the onset of the Russian-Ukrainian war in March of the same year.
Since then, Tehran has stated its commitment to negotiations aimed at lifting sanctions but has not elaborated on future compliance commitments.
Kanani referred to the latest talks in Doha between the European coordinator for nuclear negotiations, Enrique Mora, and Iran's chief negotiator, Ali Bagheri Kani, noting discussions on reviving the nuclear deal and bilateral issues, including regional developments.
The Russian envoy to the IAEA, Mikhail Ulyanov, expressed concern over the expansion of Iran's nuclear program last week, cautioning the situation was dangerous and could spiral out of control. Ulyanov blamed the U.S. withdrawal from the nuclear deal and lamented the replacement of real diplomacy with megaphone tactics.
Nasser Kanani, the Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson, protested the position of the U.S. representative at the IAEA Board of Governors during the meeting last week in Vienna. The United States and its European allies the United Kingdom, France, and Germany once again chose not to seek a resolution against Iran at the IAEA's quarterly meeting. However, the U.S. declared it would act if Iran does not provide necessary cooperation soon.
Washington has indicated that it will take future action against Iran at the IAEA's June meeting if Tehran continues to "obstruct" the agency's work by refusing to cooperate and not providing requested information on longstanding issues, including unexplained uranium traces.
The U.S. called on Iran to collaborate with the IAEA, including permitting access for environmental sampling, and urged Iran to start this process immediately. Failure to do so would result in the U.S. requesting a "comprehensive report" from IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi on Iran's nuclear activities, potentially exceeding his usual quarterly reports.
In response to the latest U.S. position, Kanani remarked that the "non-technical and baseless" statements have no impact on Iran's decisions and will in this matter. He stated that "America, as a violator of the nuclear agreement and many international laws, has no standing to comment on Iran's peaceful nuclear activities."
A Week Prior: UN Warning
A week earlier, IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi renewed his call at the Board of Governors meeting for Iran's "general cooperation." Grossi expressed deep regret over Iran's decision not to reverse the withdrawal of the designations of several experienced agency inspectors and stressed that issues could only be addressed through constructive and meaningful participation. Iran has since significantly reduced inspections, disconnected monitoring cameras, and withdrew the accreditation of a group of experts, actions that escalated under Joe Biden's U.S. presidency since January 2021.
More than a year has passed since the IAEA Board of Governors issued a resolution requiring Iran's cooperation with the agency's years-long investigation into uranium particles. Tehran has dismissed the resolution as "political" and "anti-Iranian," with only China and Russia opposing it.
Grossi also reiterated his concern about the risks of nuclear proliferation. Despite not having evidence of Iran building a nuclear bomb, Grossi takes seriously statements like those made in February by former Foreign Minister and ex-head of the Iranian Atomic Energy Organization, Ali Akbar Salehi, who claimed Iran had the "scientific and technical capabilities" for a nuclear weapon. Grossi emphasized Iran's unique position outside the nuclear-armed states' club, enriching uranium at 60% purity and storing significant quantities, approaching the 90% required for military use.
Nuclear Negotiations
Former U.S. President Donald Trump withdrew from the 2015 nuclear agreement in 2018, which imposed sanctions on Iran in exchange for nuclear restrictions. Following the reimposition of sanctions, Iran expanded its nuclear activities far beyond the agreement's limits.
In September 2022, the talks between Tehran and world powers to revive the agreement reached a deadlock, which started with the onset of the Russian-Ukrainian war in March of the same year.
Since then, Tehran has stated its commitment to negotiations aimed at lifting sanctions but has not elaborated on future compliance commitments.
Kanani referred to the latest talks in Doha between the European coordinator for nuclear negotiations, Enrique Mora, and Iran's chief negotiator, Ali Bagheri Kani, noting discussions on reviving the nuclear deal and bilateral issues, including regional developments.
The Russian envoy to the IAEA, Mikhail Ulyanov, expressed concern over the expansion of Iran's nuclear program last week, cautioning the situation was dangerous and could spiral out of control. Ulyanov blamed the U.S. withdrawal from the nuclear deal and lamented the replacement of real diplomacy with megaphone tactics.
