Iran’s Response to IAEA Board Resolution: We Will Take Reciprocal Practical Steps

Iran’s Foreign Ministry criticized the adoption of a resolution against Iran in the Board of Governors of the International Atomic Energy Agency and stated it will take “reciprocal practical steps.” Saudi Arabia also welcomed the agency’s action in a statement.

According to ISNA, Iran’s Foreign Ministry on Thursday, June 9, issued a statement in response to the adoption of the resolution by the Board of Governors of the International Atomic Energy Agency, stating that the country “due to the IAEA’s unconstructive approach and the passage of this resolution, has taken reciprocal practical steps, including the installation of advanced centrifuges and the deactivation of surveillance cameras beyond the facility.”

In this statement, the adoption of the Board of Governors resolution was strongly criticized as “a political, incorrect, and unconstructive action.” The resolution was presented to the Board of Governors by the United States, United Kingdom, France, and Germany. The body passed it yesterday with an overwhelming majority and called on the authorities of the Islamic Republic of Iran to cooperate with the atomic energy agency without delay.

In contrast to this demand, the statement by the Foreign Ministry of the Islamic Republic states that “based on the joint statement dated March 5, 2022, it has demonstrated its good faith in interaction with the IAEA by presenting accurate technical information,” and expected that the IAEA would also “with an independent, impartial, and professional approach, take constructive and realistic action toward normalizing nuclear matters.” Iran claims that “past issues were closed once and for all on December 15, 2015, by the Board of Governors.”

The Islamic Republic of Iran also claims that it has always maintained “constructive cooperation” with the IAEA, and this country’s nuclear program is “the most transparent peaceful nuclear program” among IAEA member states.

This is while the Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency has accused the Islamic Republic of not providing convincing answers to some of this body’s questions, including about the origin of radioactive materials discovered in three undeclared locations.

Iran’s Foreign Ministry considered the Board of Governors’ passage of the resolution to be a “hasty and imbalanced” action by Rafael Grossi, the IAEA Director General, and “based on false and fabricated information” from Israel. The Islamic Republic has threatened to take reciprocal practical steps that include “the installation of advanced centrifuges and the deactivation of surveillance cameras beyond the facility.”

Israel and Saudi Arabia Welcome the Resolution

Naftali Bennett, Prime Minister of Israel, said on the evening of Wednesday, June 8, regarding the decision of the Board of Governors of the International Atomic Energy Agency that his country welcomes this decision. According to him, “this is an important decision that reveals Iran’s true face,” and shows that “Iran neither cooperates with the IAEA nor complies with its guidelines,” and for this reason “prevents the IAEA from carrying out its important duties and taking action against military nuclear activities.”

Bennett considered the Board’s vote “a clear warning light for Iran” and said: “If Iran continues its activities, leading countries should refer the matter back to the UN Security Council.”

Also, the official Saudi news agency “SPA” reported that the country’s Foreign Ministry welcomed the adoption of the proposed resolution by the United States and the European Troika regarding Iran on Thursday, June 9. While calling on Iran to cooperate with the International Atomic Energy Agency and swiftly resolve remaining issues, Saudi Arabia expressed hope that the Board of Governors member states will provide full support to the IAEA and its Director General.