Iran has said co-operation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) will be suspended following “ill-considered” moves by several European countries – Britain, France and Germany.
“Despite the Foreign Ministry’s co-operation with the International Atomic Energy Agency and the presentation of plans to solve the problem, the actions of European countries will effectively suspend the path of co-operation with the agency,” Iran’s Supreme National Security Council said in a statement.
The statement came after the Security Council voted on 19 September to renew frozen UN sanctions after European governments activated the snapback mechanism (a procedure that provides for the automatic return of UN sanctions if a participant violates the terms of an agreement) in the 10-year nuclear deal, accusing Iran of non-compliance.
The vote means the sanctions, which were suspended in exchange for restrictions on Iran’s nuclear activities under the 2015 agreement, will come back into force on 28 September unless an agreement is reached by then.
The UN Security Council voted against the permanent lifting of economic sanctions against Iran under Resolution 2231. The document was rejected by four votes to nine, with Russia, China, Pakistan and Algeria voting in favour of ending the renewal of sanctions, and the US, UK, France, Sierra Leone, Slovenia, Denmark, Greece, Panama and Somalia voting against. Guyana and South Korea abstained.
The vote followed a process launched in late August by the UK, France and Germany, known as the E3.
The E3 group – Britain, France and Germany – made clear that further sanctions relief was contingent on three conditions: full restoration of inspections, transparent accounting of uranium stockpiles, and credible diplomatic engagement with Washington. On the last point, Iran has repeatedly refused direct talks with the United States.
In late August – nearly two months after Tehran ended cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) – the UN nuclear watchdog sent inspectors back to Iran.
This return of inspectors was reportedly largely symbolic. The IAEA mission was largely preparatory and focused on “practical arrangements” to restore monitoring at sites, some of which were badly damaged in the strikes.
Iran suspended inspections in July, citing the bombing of key U.S. and Israeli sites in June.