Iran: Cooperation with the Atomic Agency No Longer Appropriate
Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stated on Sunday that cooperation between his country and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) “is no longer appropriate” following the reimposition of United Nations sanctions on Tehran related to its nuclear program.
Speaking in front of foreign diplomats, Araghchi said, “New decisions should be made, and in my opinion, the Cairo Agreement is no longer suitable in the current situation,” referring to the accord reached last month between Iran and the IAEA to determine the nature of their cooperation.
He added, “The Cairo Agreement is no longer valid as a basis for our cooperation with the IAEA,” pointing out that a “decision” regarding the relationship with the agency “will be issued” soon.
In July, Tehran suspended its cooperation with the UN agency after Israel and the United States targeted Iranian nuclear sites during a 12-day conflict in June.
Strict sanctions were reimposed after Britain, France, and Germany activated the “snapback mechanism” stipulated in the agreement, allowing for the reinstatement of sanctions lifted under the 2015 deal.
Tehran has repeatedly warned that the return of sanctions would lead to a halt in cooperation with the IAEA, but it remains unclear if Iran intends to completely sever its ties with the agency.
Since the reimposition of sanctions, several Iranian politicians have called for exiting the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, which obliges signatory states to place their nuclear facilities under IAEA scrutiny.
The Iranian nuclear program is the main source of tension between Iran and the West, particularly the United States, which, along with its ally Israel, suspects Tehran of seeking to acquire nuclear weapons.
In contrast, Iran asserts that it does not aim to possess nuclear weapons but seeks to use nuclear energy for peaceful purposes, especially for electricity generation.
