US: We Support IAEA Resolution on Iran

The U.S. State Department has affirmed that, together with three European countries—Britain, France, and Germany—it supports a resolution calling on Iran to cooperate with the International Atomic Energy Agency. Iran has warned against such measures.

Ned Price, spokesperson for the U.S. State Department, said on Thursday, June 2, ahead of next week’s meeting of the IAEA Board of Governors: “We can confirm that, together with Britain, France, and Germany, we are seeking to adopt a resolution that emphasizes the necessity of Iran’s full cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency.”

The U.S. State Department spokesperson also noted that the latest IAEA report has raised “very serious concerns” about Iran’s failure to answer questions from the agency.

Price told reporters: “It is essential that Iran fully comply with its binding legal obligations under the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons.”

In its latest report, the International Atomic Energy Agency stated that Iran has not provided clarification regarding remaining questions about resolving the discovery of nuclear materials at undeclared sites in Marivan, Varamin, and Turquzabad, and questions remain unanswered.

Rafael Grossi, Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency, has also stated that as long as the IAEA does not receive satisfactory answers from Iran in this regard, it would be difficult to envision a revival of the nuclear agreement.

However, rather than clarifying and explaining to the IAEA, the Islamic Republic of Iran has warned against “unconstructive actions” at the IAEA, saying it will respond “decisively and appropriately.”

Draft Resolution and Iran’s Response

Reuters reported on Wednesday, June 1, that it had seen a draft resolution according to which the United States and three European members of the IAEA—France, Germany, and Britain (E3)—are calling for Iran’s immediate cooperation with the agency to answer its remaining questions.

Saeid Khatibzadeh, spokesperson for Iran’s Foreign Ministry, responded to this report by saying that Europe and the United States can either pursue diplomatic options or the opposite: “We are ready for both.” He stated that responsibility for the consequences lies with those who use the Board’s presidency and the Director General’s report as “pressure levers and tools of political games” against Iran.

The draft resolution is scheduled to be formally presented and discussed at next week’s Board of Governors meeting. The Board of Governors meeting is set to begin on Monday, June 6.

Talks to revive the JCPOA in Vienna have been stalled since April.

The Biden administration says it will lift the sweeping sanctions imposed by former U.S. President Donald Trump in exchange for Iran’s full return to and complete compliance with the JCPOA. However, Iran is demanding that the United States remove the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps from the list of terrorist organizations.