TEHRAN, Iran (Chatnewstv.com) — Iran’s top security body said Saturday that action by Britain, France and Germany to reimpose United Nations sanctions will “effectively suspend” its cooperation with the UN nuclear watchdog.
“Despite the foreign ministry’s cooperation with the (International Atomic Energy) Agency and the presentation of plans to resolve the issue, the actions of European countries will effectively suspend the path of cooperation with the agency,” the Supreme National Security Council said in a televised statement.
The announcement came a day after the UN Security Council voted to restore frozen sanctions under the “snapback” mechanism in the 2015 nuclear deal, accusing Iran of non-compliance. The sanctions, which had been suspended in return for curbs on Iran’s nuclear program, are set to take effect again on Sept. 28 unless Iran convinces the council to relent.
Tehran said the move by the European powers undermined months of engagement with the International Atomic Energy Agency aimed at resuming inspections and ensuring compliance with international rules.
Earlier this month, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi signed an agreement in Cairo to allow inspections of Iranian nuclear sites to resume. Iran suspended cooperation after Israel and the United States carried out coordinated strikes in June targeting its nuclear facilities, military leaders, scientists, uranium enrichment plants and missile program. Israel said the operation was necessary to prevent Iran from realizing its stated goal of destroying the Jewish state.
Tehran criticized the IAEA for not condemning the Israeli and U.S. strikes.
European governments said they would not delay the reimposition of sanctions unless Iran fully cooperates with inspectors and reopens nuclear talks with Washington, which have been suspended since June.
Iran has long denied it is seeking nuclear weapons, but it has enriched uranium to levels with no peaceful application, expanded its ballistic missile program, and restricted international inspections. Israel has accused Tehran of taking steps toward weaponization.
In retaliation for the June strikes, Iran launched more than 500 ballistic missiles and around 1,100 drones at Israel, killing 31 people and wounding more than 3,000, according to Israeli health officials. The barrage caused damage to 2,305 homes in 240 buildings, along with two universities and a hospital, leaving over 13,000 people displaced.
