Friday, November 22, 2024
Islamabad (News International / Pakistan New News - 22nd Nov, 2024 ) The United Nations nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), on Thursday passed a condemnatory resolution against Iran. It ordered Iran to improve its cooperation with the agency and requested a “comprehensive report” on Tehran’s efforts early next year.
Iran and the IAEA are at odds over a number of issues regarding its nuclear program. These include Tehran’s failure to explain traces of uranium at two undeclared sites, the blocking of some of the agency’s top experts on uranium enrichment, and its refusal to facilitate the extension of IAEA monitoring.
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What is the resolution demanding of Iran?
Like the November 2022 and June 2024 resolutions, the latest resolution calls on Iran to provide “technically credible explanations” for the uranium traces and take “necessary and urgent” steps, such as allowing IAEA analysts to take samples as needed.
The new text of the resolution also requests that “the IAEA prepare a comprehensive and up-to-date assessment report on the possible presence or use of undeclared nuclear material in relation to past and present outstanding issues regarding Iran’s nuclear program.” The report should also include a full accounting of Iran’s cooperation with the agency.
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Iran’s strong reaction
The resolution was tabled by Britain, France, Germany and the United States on the IAEA’s 35-nation Board of Governors, but Tehran rejected it immediately after its adoption, calling it “politically motivated.”
Iran's ambassador to the IAEA, Mohsen Naziri-Assal, said the motion had "very little support", with only 19 votes in favour.
China, Russia and Burkina Faso voted against it, while 12 countries abstained and Venezuela did not participate at all.
A senior diplomat told AFP before the vote that "if a resolution is passed, [Iran] will either increase its activities or further reduce the agency's access."
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This was also proven true when, moments after the vote, Iranian state media reported, citing a joint statement from the Foreign Ministry and the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran, that nuclear chief Mohammad Eslami had ordered the activation of advanced uranium enrichment centrifuges.
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Grossi, Pezishkian deal not enough
The resolution and Iranian response come days after IAEA chief Rafael Grossi visited Tehran. New Iranian President Masoud Pezishkian is seen as a relative moderate, with whom Grossi has struggled to make progress in talks.
During the visit, Iran agreed to the IAEA’s demand that it enrich its sensitive stockpile of uranium to 60 percent purity, which Grossi welcomed as a “concrete step in the right direction.”
But Britain, France, Germany and the United States have called the pledge insufficient and disingenuous.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi had earlier warned of a “proportionate” response from Tehran to the resolution.
He said the move would “undermine” its cooperation with the IAEA. However, he stressed that Iran remains willing to cooperate.
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According to the IAEA, Iran already has enough uranium to reach weapons-grade levels, which would require 90 percent enrichment, and if further enriched, would be enough for four nuclear bombs.
However, Iran denies that its nuclear program is aimed at weapons development.
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