Bloomberg quoted Western diplomats as saying Iran’s expansion of its nuclear program and its imposition of restrictions on international oversight of the program are prompting “another major crisis,” as doubts grow over Tehran’s claims about its peace of mind. nuclear efforts.
The International Atomic Energy Agency’s board on Thursday slammed Iran, accusing it of continuing to obstruct the agency’s investigation into uranium traces taken from three undeclared sites, which could mean boosting its stockpiles. of enriched fuel to record levels.
The United States and its European allies sponsored a resolution requiring Iran to urgently cooperate with the International Atomic Energy Agency, and 26 members of the agency’s 35-member board of directors supported the proposal, according to the report.
The IAEA decision indicated that if Iran does not cooperate, the council stands ready to take further action, including under Article 12-c of the IAEA Statute, which outlines options for referring Iran to the Council security forces for failing to meet its nuclear obligations.
While the IAEA Council decision is not the first it issues against Iran on this issue, the Council issued another resolution in June, but the current wording is stronger and hints at a later diplomatic escalation that could refer Iran to the United Nations Security Council for non-compliance with its nuclear obligations, according to a report published by Reuters.
Reuters quoted diplomats as saying the United States said in its statement to the IAEA Board of Governors: “Iran must now provide needed cooperation, no more empty promises.”
US Ambassador Laura Holgate said, “Iran should know that if it fails to cooperate to resolve these issues, the council will have to take further action,” according to Agence France-Presse.
China and Russia opposed this measure, while five countries abstained, and two countries did not participate in the vote, according to what the Kremlin envoy to the International Atomic Energy Agency revealed on his Twitter account.
British envoy Corinne Kitsell voiced her concerns in a tweet on Thursday, saying, “Iran continues its unprecedented nuclear escalation,” which raises questions about the nature of Iran’s nuclear program.
Tehran responded on Thursday that it may cancel a meeting with the International Atomic Energy Agency that was due to take place this month aimed at ending the impasse on explaining the origin of the uranium traces. The IAEA responded by saying it hoped the meeting would take place.
Iran’s envoy to the International Atomic Energy Agency, Mohsen Naziri, said, “The political goals of the authors of this anti-Iranian resolution will not be achieved, but it could affect the constructive relations between Tehran and the agency.” , according to Iranian state media.
