Vienna: Iran’s Ambassador to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Reza Najafi, emphasized the need for verifiable guarantees on sanctions relief as the only viable route to a new nuclear agreement. Addressing the IAEA’s Board of Governors, he reiterated Tehran’s commitment to constructive dialogue, stressing that the lifting of sanctions must be full and effective.
According to Islamic Republic News Agency, Najafi criticized the United Kingdom, France, and Germany, collectively known as the E3, for their actions that violate UN Security Council Resolution 2231, which endorses the Iran nuclear deal. He accused these nations of undermining diplomacy and not fulfilling their obligations since the implementation of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) in 2016. He highlighted their negligence and hostile measures as disruptors of Iran’s attempts to normalize trade and economic relations.
Najafi cited a series of IAEA reports that confirm Iran’s cooperation, noting that the country has provided extensive access to inspectors. He pointed out that this compliance has been acknowledged in 15 consecutive reports by the Director General, including the latest one. Najafi attributed the suspension of verification and monitoring activities in Iran to illegal attacks by the United States and Israel on safeguarded nuclear facilities. He explained that the IAEA withdrew its inspectors due to security concerns.
Furthermore, Najafi accused the E3 of misusing the ‘snapback’ mechanism to distort reality and advance a biased narrative. He argued that their efforts to invoke the dispute resolution mechanism under Resolution 2231 were legally invalid, stating that these actions represent serious violations of commitments and disqualify these countries from being credible participants in the agreement.
On August 29, the European parties to the JCPOA initiated the process for the automatic reinstatement of UN sanctions, including a comprehensive arms embargo and significant banking and shipping restrictions on Iran.