Intensive Negotiations Between Iran and 5+1 on Draft Resolution of the Board of Governors

A member of Iran's nuclear expert team has reported on "intensive negotiations" in Vienna among experts to draft a resolution for the 5+1 group aimed at closing Iran's case at the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Board of Governors. According to the state news agency IRNA, Hamid Baidi Nejad stated on Saturday, December 14, in Vienna that the draft resolution is being prepared "with consultation and direct dialogue" with Iran. He noted that the Joint Commission meetings of the JCPOA between Iran and the 5+1 group began on Thursday and will continue in the coming days. One of the topics of this commission is the Board of Governors' resolution regarding the closure of the case concerning the possible military dimensions (PMD) of Iran's nuclear program. Baidi Nejad mentioned that general discussions would take place in the Joint Commission, while detailed discussions and phrasing of the resolution would be addressed in a separate meeting alongside this commission. He predicted that this resolution would be approved "by consensus and with full support" from the members of the IAEA Board of Governors. Previously, Abbas Araqchi, a senior member of Iran's nuclear negotiation team, stated after the IAEA report that the 5+1 countries would present a resolution to the IAEA Board within two weeks aimed at closing Iran's case. The United States announced its readiness to close Iran's case shortly after the IAEA report was published. However, Roman Nadal, spokesperson for the French Foreign Ministry, stated last week that the IAEA must clarify the background of Iran's activities and provide detailed answers to all ambiguities regarding this matter. If one of the Board members, including France, expresses dissatisfaction with the IAEA report on Iran's PMD, it could seriously delay the implementation of the final nuclear agreement reached in July between Iran and world powers. Yukiya Amano, the Director General of the IAEA, reported that Iran had attempted to develop a nuclear explosive device at least until the end of 2003, but these activities did not go beyond feasibility studies and scientific research. The IAEA also confirmed that it had not found credible evidence of activities related to the development of nuclear weapons in Iran since 2009. Meanwhile, Baidi Nejad stated that the IAEA report is "not favorable for Iran," but should be evaluated "in light of the realities." He added, "We are pleased that despite the shortcomings and weaknesses of this report, the IAEA has managed to conclude that Iran's nuclear program has not deviated in any way from peaceful objectives." The IAEA Director General stated on Thursday, December 5, that his report on the PMD case would not be entirely black and white, while members of Iran's nuclear negotiation team, including Abbas Araqchi, claimed that the report is closer to white. However, Reza Najafi, Iran's representative at the IAEA, stated on Saturday that the IAEA report has "some negative points that we consider invalid." In this context, Hossein Shariatmadari, representative of the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic in the Kayhan newspaper, wrote in the editorial of Saturday's issue that the recent IAEA report would provide a suitable ground for future American extortion and bullying. He claimed that contrary to Abbas Araqchi's statements, the nature of this report is "completely black."