American Unlawful Actions Explained in Letter to IAEA

Iran’s envoy to the International Atomic Energy Agency sent a letter to the director general of the nuclear watchdog, calling attention to the United States’ irresponsible conduct and the need for proper reaction by the global community. 
Kazem Gharibabadi noted in his letter to AEA chief, Rafael Grossi, that the US unlawful actions are in contradiction with IAEA’s Statute and the commitments made in the General Conference Resolutions, as well as against the nuclear cooperation and activities in accordance with the 2015 nuclear deal, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, and United Nations Security Council Resolution 2231 that endorsed it. 
“[These actions] are not only in violation of the UN Charter, but also could greatly impede the full implementation of JCPOA,” he said. 
The US actions, according to Gharibabadi, even contradict with the Resolution GOV/2015/72 adopted by the Board of Governors on Dec. 15, 2015, that recognizes the long-term nature of JCPOA provisions and their implications for the agency. 
The US pulled out of JCPOA in 2018 and reimposed severe sanctions on Tehran. Since then, it has been exerting pressure not only on Iran but also on other parties that remain committed to the deal to prevent the full implementation of the agreement. 
In the most recent move, Washington announced in May that it would terminate the sanctions waivers that allowed foreign cooperation in Iran’s nuclear projects under JCPOA, which include the Arak reactor conversion, the provision of enriched uranium for Tehran Research Reactor and the transfer of spent and scrap reactor fuel abroad.
“This action, together with the previous malign policies and conducts of the United States … is intended to substantially prevent Iran, other participants and the international community from implementing their commitments under JCPOA,” Gharibabadi said. 

Irresponsible Behavior

The Iranian envoy noted that such irresponsible behavior also extends to the humanitarian applications of nuclear science and technology, and endangers the lives of hundreds of thousands of patients in dire need of radiopharmaceuticals. 
“While the Islamic Republic of Iran is entitled to take remedial measures, which the agency will be duly informed at any stage of its development, the United States shall bear full responsibility for the consequences of its wrongful acts,” the ambassador said in the letter. 
He said the US must immediately remove these restrictions and limitations on international cooperation on the peaceful uses of nuclear energy, “which are in contradiction with the objective of the Statute of the Agency, principles of the Non-Proliferation Treaty and the provisions of the Security Council Resolution 2231.”
Gharibabadi also called on IAEA members to uphold their responsibilities and react proportionately to unlawful American conduct.
He stressed that the US violations should not have any negative impact on the work of the agency in pursuing its mandate in the fields of peaceful nuclear uses in accordance with its statute and other relevant documents.
“The director general is requested to duly reflect such violations by the US in his reports on the implementation of the relevant instruments of the agency,” he said, asking for the circulation of this letter as an official document of IAEA.