Islamic Republic's Reaction to Possible Resolution Against Iran in the Board of Governors; We Will Respond

One day after Rafael Grossi's remarks regarding the status of the Islamic Republic's nuclear program and the possibility of discussing and approving a resolution concerning Iran at the current Board of Governors meeting, a responsible official from the Iranian government stated that "if a resolution is passed or political pressure is applied, we will definitely respond, and we have announced this." Mohammad Eslami, head of the Atomic Energy Organization, said on Tuesday, June 5, during a trip to Shahrekord: "We are in the phase of reducing commitments, and our criterion is the Strategic Action Law of the Islamic Consultative Assembly for lifting sanctions." Previously, Rafael Grossi, the Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), which is affiliated with the United Nations, stated on Monday that Iran's enriched uranium stockpiles, including uranium enriched to 60%, continue to increase. He made this statement in remarks addressed to the members of the IAEA's Board of Governors and announced that this issue was included in the latest verification and monitoring report on the Islamic Republic's nuclear program and was provided to the members of the Board of Governors. The Board of Governors is one of the two bodies that have policymaking power within the IAEA. Grossi also mentioned that regarding monitoring the nuclear program in Iran, which the Islamic Republic has restricted, the agency's information chain regarding the production of centrifuges, the number of stored ones, rotors and blowers of centrifuges, heavy water, and uranium ore concentrate has been disrupted. He stated that it has been over three years since the temporary suspension of the Additional Protocol by the Islamic Republic of Iran, and therefore, for more than three years, the agency has been unable to have comprehensive monitoring access to the Islamic Republic's nuclear program. In another part of the agency's issues with the Islamic Republic, he noted that there has been no progress in resolving the remaining safeguards issues. He stated that the Iranian government has not provided "credible technical explanations" regarding the uranium particles discovered in Varamin and Torqozabad or informed the agency about the current locations of nuclear materials or contaminated equipment. These uranium particles have a human origin, meaning they were not naturally present there. Grossi mentioned that Iran is still not implementing modified Article 3.1, as it claims to have suspended its implementation. This article obliges the Iranian government to provide the agency with design information as soon as it decides to start constructing any nuclear facilities. He stated that these unresolved issues must be addressed so that the agency can be in a position to guarantee that the Islamic Republic's nuclear program is solely peaceful. He also expressed that the public statements of Islamic Republic officials regarding the government's ability to produce nuclear weapons and the possibility of changing its nuclear doctrine only increase his concerns about the accuracy and completeness of Iran's safeguards statements. In recent months, Islamic Republic officials have threatened that the government might resort to producing nuclear weapons. Grossi visited Tehran in early May and met with Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, who was then the Foreign Minister of the Islamic Republic, as well as Mohammad Eslami, the Vice President of the Islamic Republic and head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran. He stated that during that visit, he provided Iranian officials with "several concrete proposals" to reinforce the joint statement issued on March 4, 2023, for increased monitoring of Iran's nuclear program. However, Grossi expressed deep regret that the Iranian government has not yet reversed its decision to prevent several of the agency's most experienced inspectors from entering Iran's nuclear facilities. He stated that he still welcomes Iran's agreement that the joint statement of Esfand 1401 continues to provide a framework for cooperation with the agency and resolving outstanding issues and "I urge Iran to implement the joint statement through serious engagement with the agency's specific proposals." He reiterated his request to the new Iranian government (the government after the death of Ebrahim Raisi in a helicopter crash) to continue high-level dialogues and technical exchanges that began as a result of the May meeting with Hossein Amir-Abdollahian and Ali Bagheri Kani, the current head of the Foreign Ministry. Blinken's praise for Grossi for the agency's efforts regarding the Islamic Republic's nuclear program. Grossi stated that he discussed the Islamic Republic's nuclear program with Putin. A group of Republican senators in the U.S. urged the Biden administration to condemn the Islamic Republic at the agency meeting. Warning from the U.S. and Europe: If Iran does not resolve the "remaining issues," another resolution will be issued.