Iran's reaction to the Board of Governors resolution: We will take practical reciprocal steps

Iran’s Foreign Ministry criticized the adoption of a resolution against Iran by the International Atomic Energy Agency’s Board of Governors and said it would take “practical countermeasures.” Saudi Arabia also welcomed the agency’s move in a statement.

According to ISNA, Iran's Foreign Ministry reacted to the adoption of the resolution by the International Atomic Energy Agency's Board of Governors in a statement on Thursday, June 9, saying that the country "has taken practical countermeasures due to the Agency's unconstructive approach and the adoption of this resolution, including the installation of advanced centrifuges and the deactivation of extra-safeguard cameras."

The statement strongly criticized the adoption of the resolution by the Board of Governors as a “political, incorrect and unconstructive action.” The resolution was submitted to the Board of Governors by the United States, Britain, France and Germany. The body approved it yesterday by an overwhelming majority and called on the authorities of the Islamic Republic of Iran to cooperate with the IAEA without wasting time.

The Islamic Republic's Foreign Ministry statement in response to this request says that "based on the joint statement dated March 5, 2022, it has shown its good faith in interacting with the Agency by providing accurate technical information" and that it expects the Agency to also "take constructive and realistic action with an independent, impartial and professional approach towards normalizing safeguards issues." Iran claims that "past issues were closed once and for all by the Board of Governors on December 15, 2015."

The Islamic Republic of Iran also claims that it has always had "constructive cooperation" with the Agency and that its nuclear program is "the most transparent peaceful nuclear program" among the IAEA member states.

This comes at a time when the Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency has accused the Islamic Republic of failing to provide convincing answers to some of the agency's questions, including about the origin of radioactive materials discovered in three undeclared locations.

Iran’s Foreign Ministry has called the approval of the Board of Governors resolution a “hasty and unbalanced” move by IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi and “based on false and fabricated information” from Israel. The Islamic Republic has threatened to take countermeasures, including “installing advanced centrifuges and disabling ultra-safeguard cameras.”

Israel and Saudi Arabia welcome the resolution

Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett said on Wednesday evening that his country welcomes the decision of the International Atomic Energy Agency’s Board of Governors. According to him, “this is an important decision that reveals the true face of Iran” and shows that “Iran neither cooperates with the Agency nor follows its instructions” and therefore “prevents the Agency from carrying out its important tasks and taking action against military nuclear activities.”

Bennett called the Board of Governors' vote "a clear warning sign for Iran," and said: "If Iran continues its activities, leading countries should refer the matter back to the United Nations Security Council."