Resolution Presented by Three European Countries to the Board of Governors; Iran Warns of Reaction

Following the submission of a draft resolution to the Board of Governors by Western powers criticizing Tehran's lack of cooperation with the agency, the head of the Iranian Atomic Energy Organization warned against any "political pressure" on the Islamic Republic. Mohammad Eslami stated on Tuesday, June 5, in response to the efforts of Western countries to pass a resolution against the Islamic Republic in the Board of Governors, "If they issue a resolution or apply political pressure, we will certainly show a reaction." According to him, Iran's nuclear activities are "within the framework of national law... within the framework of safeguards and the NPT... If the report indicates otherwise, it is because they have not fulfilled their commitments under the JCPOA, and they need to return to their commitments, and we will also fulfill our commitments." Eslami had previously stated that Iran's reduction of commitments under the JCPOA is "natural," as it is a response to the U.S. withdrawal from the JCPOA and the passage of the "Strategic Action to Lift Sanctions" law in December 2020 by the Islamic Consultative Assembly. This law mandated the Rouhani government to begin uranium enrichment to 20% and suspend the implementation of the Additional Protocol amid nuclear negotiations with the West. France, Britain, and Germany criticized Iran's lack of cooperation with the agency in a draft resolution submitted to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Board of Governors on Monday. According to AFP, two diplomats confirmed the submission of this critical resolution against Iran. Reuters also reported that the draft submitted on Monday once again called for clarification regarding uranium particles found at three undeclared sites in the Islamic Republic, similar to two years ago. The report adds that the resolution also addresses Iran's lack of cooperation with agency inspectors. Norman Lawrence, a reporter for the Wall Street Journal, also reported the submission of this draft resolution, citing a European diplomat. The Wall Street Journal and Reuters reported last week that the U.S. did not support the submission of this resolution against Iran. Reports indicate that France, Britain, and Germany, the three European countries that are members of the JCPOA, distributed a draft resolution against Iran among the members of the IAEA Board of Governors last week. The five-day meeting of the Board of Governors began on Monday at the agency's headquarters in Vienna, and this meeting is expected to focus specifically on the status of Iran's nuclear program. The Director General of the IAEA stated at the beginning of the Board of Governors meeting that he is "deeply sorry" that Iran has not yet revoked its decision to prevent experienced agency inspectors from entering the country, despite his visit to Tehran last month. According to him, Iran has increased its stockpile of 60% enriched uranium and has suspended its commitments under the Additional Protocol for more than three years, during which the agency has been unable to access supplementary information in Iran and has lost the ability to obtain information about the production and inventory of centrifuges, rotors, heavy water, and uranium ore concentrate. The IAEA Director General emphasized that no progress has been made in resolving outstanding safeguard issues, and Iran has not provided credible technical explanations regarding the rejection of human-origin uranium particles at the Varamin and Torqozabad sites and has not informed the agency about the current locations of "contaminated" (with uranium particles) nuclear materials and equipment. Diplomats told the Wall Street Journal last week that if no resolution is issued against Iran in the IAEA Board of Governors, the agency's authority as a nuclear watchdog will be weakened, and the credibility of the West in addressing potential proliferation threats will be compromised. These diplomats stated that the three European countries believe it is time to take a firm stance against Tehran's continued non-compliance with non-proliferation commitments. The last time the IAEA Board of Governors passed a resolution against Iran was 18 months ago, demanding the Islamic Republic's immediate cooperation with the agency, particularly regarding the clarification of uranium traces found at three undeclared sites in the Islamic Republic. In confidential reports sent to members of the agency, a version of which was provided to Reuters on Tuesday, June 27, it is stated that "no progress has been made in implementing the provisions of the March 4, 2023 agreement in the past year." Tehran also continues to prevent many senior IAEA uranium enrichment experts from entering the country. Three diplomats had previously told Reuters that the draft resolution submitted by the three European countries to the Board of Governors focuses on investigations into the nuclear program and likely refers to a request for Rafael Grossi to provide a "comprehensive report" on Iran's nuclear activities, which is broader than the agency's usual quarterly reports. In its latest quarterly report, the agency states that Iran has increased its level of 60% enrichment to the extent that if enrichment continues to 90%, it will have the capability to build three nuclear bombs. Western powers argue that such a level of enrichment has no civilian justification, and the IAEA has stated that no other country enriches uranium to this level without the intention of building nuclear weapons. The Islamic Republic claims that it does not intend to produce a nuclear bomb and that its nuclear program is peaceful.