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Iran warns France against complicating situation ahead of IAEA vote

· 3 min read

Iran warns France against ‘complicating' situation ahead of IAEA vote​

TEHRAN – Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has warned his French counterpart that adopting a censure resolution against the Islamic Republic at the IAEA Board of Governors meeting will make the situation surrounding Iran's nuclear program “more complicated”.

Iran warns France against ‘complicating' situation ahead of IAEA vote

The IAEA board plans to vote on a draft resolution against Iran on Wednesday.  The draft resolution has been put forward by Britain, France, and Germany, three European countries still party to the 2015 nuclear deal.

“This move of the three European countries openly contravenes the positive atmosphere created between Iran and the IAEA, and will only make the situation more complicated,” Araghchi told French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot in a telephone conversation.

IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi visited Tehran last week. During his stay in Iran, he held talks with Foreign Minister Araghchi, Iran’s nuclear chief Mohammad Eslami and President Masoud Pezeshkian.

The phone conversation comes as a senior Western diplomat, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, confirmed to the AP that the European troika, with support from the U.S., are going ahead with a resolution against Tehran at the IAEA board meeting.

The resolution will take to task Iran for what it claims to be a lack of cooperation with the IAEA on the country’s nuclear program.

“It is possible that the commitments made by Iran during the IAEA’s chief visit may not stand in case a resolution is passed,” a senior diplomat said, stressing that Iran has in the past responded to resolutions by the IAEA board through further enhancing its nuclear program.

Iran offered not to expand its uranium stockpile during the visit by Grossi, with the IAEA underlining, “The possibility of Iran not further expanding its stockpile of uranium enriched up to 60% U-235 was discussed, including technical verification measures necessary for the Agency to confirm this, if implemented.”

The IAEA said that one day after Grossi left Iran, IAEA inspectors verified that “Iran had begun implementation of preparatory measures aimed at stopping the increase of its stockpile of uranium enriched up to 60 % U-235” at its nuclear sites in Fordow and Natanz.

During Grossi's stay in Tehran, Iran warned if the IAEA board ratifies a resolution against Iran it will immediately take reciprocal measures.  

Again on Wednesday, Foreign Minister Araghchi called Grossi warning, " If the the other sides don't heed Iran's goodwill and interactive approach and put unconstructive moves on the agenda of the Board of Governors Iran will respond commensurately."

    

source: tehrantimes.com