Pressure on Iran to cooperate

The United Nations International Nuclear Watchdog announced on Friday that it is “serious concern” about Iran’s failure to comply with contract terms safeguard obligations.

The International Atomic Energy Agency ( IAEA) adopted a resolution on Friday trying to call on Iran to accept independent inspectors to visit two nuclear installations and to cooperate fully in accordance with the IAEA agreements.

“Iran has so far shown no intention of restricting the continued expansion of its nuclear program and has for months refused to provide the answers and access necessary for the IAEA to carry out its critical verification work,” Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said in a statement on Friday.

The settlement marks the first time that France, Germany and the United Kingdom have expressed support alongside the United States following President Trump ‘s withdrawal from the Iranian Nuclear Deal in 2018.

The IAEA, under its new Director-General, Rafael Grossi, also said that Iran needs to address fully and clearly the issues of “possible unreported nuclear material and related nuclear activities.”

France, Germany and the United Kingdom adopted a resolution of 25-2, with seven crossbenchers. China and Russia were the only two countries that voted against the international contract for cooperation from Iran.

Iran rejected the resolution and stated that it would fully participate in audits and safeguard commitments under the Joint Comprehensive Action Plan (JCPOA), also known as the Iran Nuclear Deal.

“Iran strongly condemns the move by the E3 [France, Germany and the United Kingdom] to follow a path that has nothing to do with the technical facts on the ground but is the result of a partisan, non-professional and political agenda,” Kazem Gharibabadi, the Iranian Ambassador to the IAEA, said Friday, as per the Tehran Times.

China, an ally of Iran, filed a five-page letter to the IAEA in assistance of the Islamic Republic, stressing that the consequences of the draft agreement could destroy “the entire global non-proliferation regime,” according to Bloomberg ‘s report.

China also convicted the US of “bullying” Iran, suggesting that China’s difficult relationship with Western countries is making a contribution to progressively high tensions with Iran.

Iran has permitted 33 audits of its nuclear installations, but has denied access to two installations, according to the Director General.

“This is the first time in history that the IAEA Member State has denied access to the Agency under its Additional Protocol Agreement,” said IAEA Ambassador Jackie Wolcott in a statement on Friday.

“Nothing less than the full implementation of Iran’s safeguard obligations is acceptable,” Wolcott added.

Pompeo reaffirmed that Iran is legally obliged to give access to the IAEA and to address any and all issues related to its nuclear programme.

“If Iran fails to cooperate, the international community must be prepared to take further action,” Pompeo said on Friday.