Ned Price: Iran Should Refrain from Actions that Undermine IAEA Trust

The US State Department spokesperson said on Wednesday night that Iran is on the wrong path, but the path of diplomacy remains open. Ned Price emphasized that Iran should refrain from any actions that undermine the trust of the International Atomic Energy Agency.

Ned Price, the US State Department spokesperson, said on Wednesday night, February 29 (February 17) in a press conference that the United States and its allies have asked Iran to return to its commitments and refrain from any actions that undermine the trust of the International Atomic Energy Agency.

The Islamic Republic has announced that starting Tuesday (February 23) it will suspend the voluntary implementation of the Additional Protocol. This means that surprise inspections by the International Atomic Energy Agency of Iranian sites will be halted.

Ned Price also said that Antony Blinken, US Secretary of State, will hold talks with the foreign ministers of Germany, Britain, and France on Thursday, February 18, regarding Iran. For this purpose, Heiko Maas, Germany’s Foreign Minister, is traveling to France on Thursday.

The US State Department spokesperson clarified that “Iran is on the wrong path, but the path of diplomacy remains open.”

He reiterated and emphasized the statements of US President Joe Biden that Iran should return to its JCPOA commitments as a first step, noting that in such a case, the United States would also rejoin the agreement.

Officials of the Islamic Republic, including Ali Khamenei, have emphasized that only after all or gradual US sanctions are lifted will Iran also return to all or gradually its commitments.

In response to the US withdrawal from the agreement, Iran has so far resumed 20 percent uranium enrichment and uranium metal production as part of its gradual suspension of JCPOA commitments.

Source: DW