Iran (IMNA) - The Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesperson, Esmaeil Baghaei, addressed a joint statement from the three European nations on Tuesday, which accused Iran of not adhering to its commitments under the 2015 nuclear deal and UN Security Council Resolution 2231. The statement urged Iran to cease what they termed “nuclear escalation.”
Baghaei emphasized that Iran's decision to activate more advanced centrifuges is within the rights of Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) members and has been conducted with proper notification and oversight from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). He reiterated Iran's commitment to cooperating with the IAEA, citing recent understandings reached during the visit of IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi to Tehran as evidence of this cooperation.
He expressed disappointment that the three European countries chose to pursue an anti-Iran resolution at the IAEA Board of Governors meeting despite the progress made during Grossi's visit. Baghaei stated, "The Islamic Republic of Iran still believes in constructive interaction based on mutual respect," while also asserting that Iran will respond to any confrontational actions within its legal rights.
Baghaei attributed the current challenges in implementing the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) not to Iran's nuclear activities but rather to the unilateral withdrawal of the United States in 2018 and the failure of European nations to fulfill their obligations. The JCPOA was signed in 2015 between Iran and the five permanent members of the UN Security Council plus Germany.
Negotiations aimed at reviving the JCPOA have been ongoing since April 2021, but have stalled since August due to U.S. reluctance to lift all sanctions imposed by the previous administration. Iran insists that guarantees are necessary for any future agreement.
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