Iran to Halt Collaboration with UN Nuclear Watchdog Amid Sanctions Dispute
Tehran claims Western European nations’ move to reinstate sanctions has disrupted a recent monitoring agreement.
Iran’s highest security authority has declared a halt to nuclear cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), citing actions taken against it by Western European countries.
The UN Security Council voted on Friday to reactivate sanctions against Iran, which had been lifted in exchange for limitations on its nuclear program as part of a 2015 agreement. This “snapback” mechanism was triggered by Britain, France, and Germany last month.
Iran’s Supreme National Security Council stated, according to state news agency IRNA, that “the ill-considered actions of three European countries regarding the Iranian nuclear issue… will effectively suspend the path of cooperation with the Agency.”
The statement continued that the European nations proceeded despite the Iranian Foreign Ministry’s collaboration with the UN nuclear watchdog and “the presentation of plans to resolve the issue.”
Earlier in the month, Iran and the IAEA reached an understanding that would have allowed the organization to resume inspections of Iranian nuclear facilities. Iran had halted these inspections following attacks by Israel and the US on its nuclear sites, with accusations that it was developing a nuclear weapon – accusations that Iran has consistently refuted.
Iran had previously consented to limit its nuclear program in return for the removal of sanctions under the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), signed with Russia, China, the US, France, Britain, Germany, and the EU. However, the agreement effectively fell apart when Washington unilaterally withdrew in 2018, during Donald Trump’s presidency.
On August 28, Britain, France, and Germany initiated the JCPOA’s 30-day “snapback” mechanism, intended to reimpose sanctions that had been suspended under the accord. The UNSC vote on Friday signifies that these measures will be enacted on September 28.
At the session, Russia’s envoy to the council, Vassily Nebenzia, emphasized that Moscow does not acknowledge the decision. He stated that the E3 has “chronically” violated their JCPOA obligations and failed to adhere to the dispute mechanism.
“In our view, no snapback procedure is taking place,” Nebenzia said, adding that “the Russian Federation does not recognize either the alleged steps taken or any further steps in this context.”
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