Iran Warns US, EU3 of Rapid Reaction to IAEA Resolution

In a telephone conversation on Friday, Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian and the European Union foreign policy chief, Josep Borrell, talked about the latest circumstances surrounding the Vienna talks on reviving the JCPOA and lifting the sanctions on Iran, as well as the issues concerning the relations between Iran and the European Union.

Reiterating the Iranian government’s determination to strike a “good, robust and sustainable agreement” in the Vienna talks, Amirabdollahian deplored the recent move by the US and the three EU states –the UK, France and Germany- to prepare a draft resolution against Iran for submission to the International Atomic Energy Agency.

The top Iranian diplomat decried the preparation of the resolution as a hasty and unconstructive measure that runs counter to norms of diplomacy, saying it will make the process of negotiations more complicated and difficult.

Referring to the ‘Strategic Action’ on lifting the sanctions and safeguarding national interests, ratified by the Iranian Parliament in October 2020, Amirabdollahian warned that any political action by the US and the EU3 at the IAEA “will undoubtedly receive the Islamic Republic’s proportional, effective and immediate reaction.”

The foreign minister also denounced the destructive measures by the Zionist regime, which he slammed as the main culprit for unlawful nuclear activities in the world, saying IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi’s visit to Tel Aviv ahead of the IAEA Board of Governors meeting is in contradiction to the principles of neutrality and to the technical and professional status of the UN nuclear agency.

Amirabdollahian then appreciated the efforts of the EU foreign policy chief, and reiterated Iran’s readiness and resolve to continue the negotiations for an ultimate result in a realistic and agreed upon path.

For his part, Borrell criticized the attempts by certain parties at the failure of the Vienna talks, stressing the need for immediate results in the talks with an eventual deal.

He also emphasized the necessity for continued consultations to stay away from the current negative atmosphere in the IAEA and to focus on the continuation of talks for having all parties return to the JCPOA commitments.

The top Iranian diplomat and the EU foreign policy chief finally stressed the need for the UN nuclear watchdog to act professionally and even-handedly.

On Thursday, US State Department Spokesman Ned Price said Washington will join European powers to submit a resolution calling on Iran to “fully cooperate” with the IAEA.

“We can confirm that we plan to join the UK, France and Germany in seeking a resolution to focus on the need for Iran to fully cooperate with the IAEA,” he said during a press briefing.

The draft has yet to be formally submitted for the meeting of the IAEA’s 35-nation board which starts on Monday. Board members could adopt it unopposed or put it to a vote, but the draft is likely to be adjusted before it is submitted.