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FM urges IAEA to maintain neutrality amid West’s anti-Iran efforts
During a phone conversation with his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov, Araghchi said Iran had always pursued a “constructive and responsible” approach in its engagement with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
The phone call came ahead of an IAEA Board of Governors meeting, where the US and the European troika – Britain, France, and Germany – plan to put forward a resolution to criticize Iran over its “lack of cooperation” with the agency.
The upcoming meeting is scheduled to take place from November 19 to 21 in Vienna.
Deputy Foreign Minister for Legal and International Affairs Kazem Gharibabadi warned on Sunday that Iran would do a “fundamental review” of its engagement with the UN nuclear watchdog if the 35-member Board of Governors adopted a new resolution.
“These countries, instead of being held accountable for their silence and inaction regarding the US and Israeli attacks on Iran [in June], now want to impose further pressure on Iran,” Gharibabadi said, adding the reason was that they failed to achieve what they sought through the snapback mechanism.
He expressed hope that the Western countries would “act rationally” and drop their bid at the IAEA meeting.
Following the June attacks by Israel and the United States on Iranian nuclear sites, Iran suspended its cooperation with the UN watchdog as per a law passed by Parliament.
Tensions escalated as Iranian officials said the IAEA had effectively provided cover for the strikes by declaring the country in violation of its non‑proliferation obligations shortly before the bombardment and then failing to condemn the aggression.