Reuters: European Troika Seeks to Approve Resolution Against the Islamic Republic at Upcoming IAEA Meeting

On Wednesday, June 9, Reuters reported, citing three Western diplomats, that Britain, France, and Germany have prepared a draft resolution against the Islamic Republic and are determined to have it approved at the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) meeting next week. According to Reuters, these three diplomats stated that the Troika has shared its draft resolution, which focuses on investigations, with 35 member countries of the IAEA board. They indicated that this draft, which has not yet been officially submitted, likely requests Rafael Grossi, the IAEA Director General, to provide a 'comprehensive report' on Iran's nuclear activities, beyond his usual quarterly reports, but does not pose a threat of referring the matter to the United Nations Security Council. Reuters reiterated some previous reports stating that the U.S. and its European partners still have differing opinions on whether to confront the Islamic Republic with such a resolution, as the U.S. is concerned that such a resolution could escalate tensions in the region and disrupt the situation ahead of the presidential elections in November. Meanwhile, Matthew Miller, spokesperson for the U.S. State Department, on June 8, called reports of the Biden administration's efforts to prevent a reprimanding resolution against Tehran at the IAEA 'incorrect' and emphasized that the U.S. has not lobbied for negative or abstaining votes from countries on this issue. The June 9 Reuters report also quoted a senior European official saying: 'We are pressuring the Americans, but they still believe that we should not do anything with Iran that would escalate tensions. This approach has not yielded results so far, and we believe it is time to be decisive.' It has been eighteen months since the last resolution against the Islamic Republic was approved by the IAEA board. The previous resolution called for Iran to cooperate immediately with the agency's multi-year investigations into uranium particles found at three undeclared sites, indicating potential nuclear activity. While the number of targeted sites has decreased to two, Iran has yet to provide an explanation for these particles. Tehran has also seriously obstructed the presence of many senior uranium enrichment experts from the agency in the inspection team. Two confidential agency reports also indicate that the Islamic Republic is steadily continuing uranium enrichment at levels close to weapons-grade, while talks to improve the country's cooperation with the IAEA have stalled. Iran has been enriching uranium to 60% for three years. Western powers say that enrichment to this level has no legitimate civilian energy purpose, and the agency states that no other country has done this without developing nuclear weapons. Iran claims its goals are entirely peaceful. A former official reacted to the remarks of the head of Rouhani's office regarding Shamkhani; if what needs to be said is expressed, 'services and betrayals' will become clear. The U.S. denied reports of 'lobbying against the issuance of a reprimanding resolution for the Islamic Republic' at the IAEA. Exclusive: The U.S. expresses concern over the continued production of high-enriched uranium in Iran; we will increase pressure. The UN fact-finding committee: The death of Raisi should not lead to forgetting human rights violations in Iran. A new agency report: The Islamic Republic's 60% enriched uranium reserves have exceeded 142 kilograms. A member of the body under Ali Khamenei: Israel's nuclear threat forces regional countries to reconsider their nuclear doctrines. An Israeli representative criticized the Security Council's tribute to Raisi's death; Erdan: A minute of silence for the death of Hitler? Global reactions continue to the news of the death of Ibrahim Raisi and his companions.