European powers seek to censor Iran at UN nuclear meeting – vopbuzz
VIENNA: England, France and Germany will demand censorship Iranian due to non-cooperation with UN The nuclear watchdog is at the board meeting on Monday despite US opposition, diplomats told AFP.
According to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Tehran is the only non-nuclear-weapon state that enriches uranium to 60%, while continuing to accumulate large uranium stockpiles.
This approaches the 90% enrichment levels required for atomic weapons. It is also well above the allowable 3.67%. nuclear power stations.
A diplomat who requested anonymity said Iran has always denied seeking nuclear weapons but said there was “no credible civilian justification” for the rapid expansion of its nuclear program.
Diplomats told AFP that the introduction of a resolution against Iran at the Vienna meeting was motivated by “the urgency to respond to the seriousness of the situation”.
The planned decision comes after the IAEA board adopted the last of its kind in November 2022.
Although Iran has since continued to significantly increase its nuclear program, the IAEA board has refrained from issuing condemnations.
At the last board meeting in March, European powers decided to shelve plans to confront Iran due to lack of support from Washington.
Diplomats say the United States denies blocking European efforts to hold Tehran accountable but fears condemnation could worsen tensions in the Middle East ahead of presidential elections in November.
‘Necessary and urgent’
Cooperation between Iran and the IAEA has deteriorated significantly in recent years as the UN nuclear watchdog has struggled to get assurances that Iran’s nuclear program is peaceful.
Diplomats say continuing the current policy of inaction at a time when Iran is escalating tensions is no longer tenable, and the US’s stance may change ahead of the vote planned for this weekend.
In May, IAEA chief Rafael Grossi visited Iran in a bid to improve cooperation, calling for “concrete results soon”.
Meanwhile, the death of Iranian President Ibrahim Reisi in a helicopter crash last month suspended negotiations.
But diplomats argue that Iran is using the crash as an excuse to stall.
The draft resolution obtained by AFP covers all the points of contention.
The secret draft states that it is “necessary and urgent” for Tehran to provide “technically reliable explanations” for the presence of uranium particles found in two undeclared locations in Iran.
Moreover, Iran must “withdraw the assignments of several experienced Agency inspectors” and reconnect cameras used to monitor nuclear activities “without delay.”
The draft also cites “concerns” regarding “Iran’s technical capabilities to produce nuclear weapons and recent press statements regarding possible changes to Iran’s nuclear doctrine.”
‘A wider impasse’
Iran has gradually moved away from its commitments under the nuclear agreement it signed with the USA, China, Russia, France, Germany and the UK in 2015.
This landmark agreement gave Iran sanctions relief in exchange for restricting its atomic program.
But that dissipated after the US unilaterally withdrew in 2018 under then-president Donald Trump.
Efforts to revive the agreement have so far failed.
“The US has reportedly been hesitant to approve a resolution because Tehran has tended to double down on activities that had previously led to condemnation,” Crisis Group Iran analyst Naysan Rafati told AFP.
But he added that Washington “will also be reluctant to publicly break with its European allies.”
“The boardroom showdown reflects a broader stalemate over Iran’s nuclear activity, with little diplomatic activity but growing concerns about a program that continues to scale up under limited international oversight,” Rafati said. said.
Mikhail Ulyanov, Russia’s ambassador to international organizations in Vienna, wrote in X on Sunday that the IAEA board meeting is likely to turn into a tumultuous meeting.
Ulyanov wrote that he hoped that an “anti-Iran resolution” would not be tabled because it risked “seriously worsening the situation.”
According to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Tehran is the only non-nuclear-weapon state that enriches uranium to 60%, while continuing to accumulate large uranium stockpiles.
This approaches the 90% enrichment levels required for atomic weapons. It is also well above the allowable 3.67%. nuclear power stations.
A diplomat who requested anonymity said Iran has always denied seeking nuclear weapons but said there was “no credible civilian justification” for the rapid expansion of its nuclear program.
Diplomats told AFP that the introduction of a resolution against Iran at the Vienna meeting was motivated by “the urgency to respond to the seriousness of the situation”.
The planned decision comes after the IAEA board adopted the last of its kind in November 2022.
Although Iran has since continued to significantly increase its nuclear program, the IAEA board has refrained from issuing condemnations.
At the last board meeting in March, European powers decided to shelve plans to confront Iran due to lack of support from Washington.
Diplomats say the United States denies blocking European efforts to hold Tehran accountable but fears condemnation could worsen tensions in the Middle East ahead of presidential elections in November.
‘Necessary and urgent’
Cooperation between Iran and the IAEA has deteriorated significantly in recent years as the UN nuclear watchdog has struggled to get assurances that Iran’s nuclear program is peaceful.
Diplomats say continuing the current policy of inaction at a time when Iran is escalating tensions is no longer tenable, and the US’s stance may change ahead of the vote planned for this weekend.
In May, IAEA chief Rafael Grossi visited Iran in a bid to improve cooperation, calling for “concrete results soon”.
Meanwhile, the death of Iranian President Ibrahim Reisi in a helicopter crash last month suspended negotiations.
But diplomats argue that Iran is using the crash as an excuse to stall.
The draft resolution obtained by AFP covers all the points of contention.
The secret draft states that it is “necessary and urgent” for Tehran to provide “technically reliable explanations” for the presence of uranium particles found in two undeclared locations in Iran.
Moreover, Iran must “withdraw the assignments of several experienced Agency inspectors” and reconnect cameras used to monitor nuclear activities “without delay.”
The draft also cites “concerns” regarding “Iran’s technical capabilities to produce nuclear weapons and recent press statements regarding possible changes to Iran’s nuclear doctrine.”
‘A wider impasse’
Iran has gradually moved away from its commitments under the nuclear agreement it signed with the USA, China, Russia, France, Germany and the UK in 2015.
This landmark agreement gave Iran sanctions relief in exchange for restricting its atomic program.
But that dissipated after the US unilaterally withdrew in 2018 under then-president Donald Trump.
Efforts to revive the agreement have so far failed.
“The US has reportedly been hesitant to approve a resolution because Tehran has tended to double down on activities that had previously led to condemnation,” Crisis Group Iran analyst Naysan Rafati told AFP.
But he added that Washington “will also be reluctant to publicly break with its European allies.”
“The boardroom showdown reflects a broader stalemate over Iran’s nuclear activity, with little diplomatic activity but growing concerns about a program that continues to scale up under limited international oversight,” Rafati said. said.
Mikhail Ulyanov, Russia’s ambassador to international organizations in Vienna, wrote in X on Sunday that the IAEA board meeting is likely to turn into a tumultuous meeting.
Ulyanov wrote that he hoped that an “anti-Iran resolution” would not be tabled because it risked “seriously worsening the situation.”
