Iran “cannot completely cut cooperation” with International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) but the return of its inspectors is up to the country’s security chiefs, Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi told a press conference. His comments come nearly two months after Iran suspended cooperation with the Agency following the 12-day war with Israel and the US in June.
Iran cited the IAEA’s failure to condemn Israeli and American strikes on its nuclear facilities as the reason for its decision, which resulted in IAEA inspectors leaving Iran following the passing of new legislation by parliament.
“We cannot completely cut cooperation with the agency,” Araghchi said, noting that new fuel rods need to be installed at Iran’s Bushehr NPP in the coming weeks, which will require the presence of IAEA inspectors. “Under the law passed by parliament, the return of inspectors will be possible through a decision of the Supreme National Security Council,” he told IRNA.
Iran has since said cooperation with the agency will take “a new form” and earlier in August, Massimo Aparo, the IAEA’s Deputy Director for Non-Proliferation, visited Tehran for talks. At the time, deputy foreign minister Kazem Gharibabadi said Iran and the agency had agreed to “continue consultations”.
“I think Mr Aparo’s trip to Iran was good for us to get a better understanding on the (nuclear) issue,” said Araghchi. After this trip, we wrote and presented our views regarding a possible modality based on the law of the parliament.” He added: “On Saturday, the IAEA wrote its comments and sent them back to us, and this back-and-forth interaction between Iran and the agency continues. We will probably send colleagues to Vienna to conduct another round of negotiations there.”
In his interview with IRNA, Araghchi also warned the European parties to the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) that invoking the so-called snapback mechanism would be illegal, but that Tehran has prepared a response to any attempts to restore UN sanctions against Iran. The comments were made amid growing debates about whether to resume diplomacy, which was derailed after the June strikes by Israel and the US.
The Europeans have threatened to trigger the snapback mechanism, embedded in the 2015 JCPOA, to restore all UN sanctions on Iran before the accord officially expires in October. Araghchi stated that the Europeans have no right to do so, as their recent actions, including discussions of “zero enrichment”, have effectively made them non-participants in the JCPOA. The US withdrew from the JCPOA in 2018, prompting Iran to resume its nuclear development programme.
“They think the snapback is the only tool they have,” he said. “Here we have clearly explained our position: first, you have basically no right to use it as you, too, have effectively withdrawn from the deal following the US withdrawal, and with your recent positions, including the zero enrichment. So you’re no longer a participant in the JCPOA, and the right to snapback belongs only to remaining members.”
He added: “Even if we assume you have the right, what will happen if you do it? First, Europe’s role in diplomacy will be completely over. You’ve used the tool, and it’s done. What remains after that? The end of diplomacy?” He said, while Iran is working to prevent such an outcome, it is also prepared for the consequences, emphasising that the economic impact would be minimal and the primary effect would be psychological.
He acknowledged that a return to UN Security Council resolutions, is a serious matter. However, he said, the economic impact would be negligible compared with the current unilateral US sanctions. “The economic sanctions of the Security Council are far more limited than the current unilateral US sanctions,” he said. “Things will not become any worse than the current situation. Yes, from a psychological and political, and even strategic point of view, there are consequences, but not to the extent that it would bring diplomacy to a dead end or paralyse the country.”
He said Iran, in collaboration with China and Russia, has been working for years on a plan to counter the snapback. “We have had various joint meetings and designed a series of joint measures that we will implement if the snapback is activated.”
