Initial Measures In Response to IAEA Resolution Adopted

Iran has adopted several initial measures in its two main nuclear facilities in response to the “politically-motivated” resolution passed by the International Atomic Energy Agency’s Board of Governors, a senior Iranian diplomat said.

“The Atomic Energy Organization of Iran will disclose further details in this regard,” Foreign Ministry Spokesman Nasser Kanaani said at a regular press conference on Monday, ISNA reported.

He added that the IAEA has been informed of the steps and they were implemented in the presence of its inspectors.

The UN atomic watchdog's 35-nation Board of Governors passed a resolution on Thursday, ordering Iran to cooperate urgently with the agency's investigation into uranium traces allegedly found at three undeclared sites.

The resolution, drafted by the US, Britain, France and Germany, was adopted with 26 votes in favor, five abstentions and two countries absent, while Russia and China voted against.

It says "it is essential and urgent" that Iran explain the origin of the uranium particles and more generally give the IAEA all the answers it requires.

The board had earlier passed another resolution against Iran on the issue in June, but the new one’s wording was stronger and hinted at a future diplomatic escalation.

In a statement on Sunday, Kanaani said the measure was taken for political goals and with the aim of ramping up pressure on the Islamic Republic.

“The resolution was passed while Iran has had the most transparent peaceful nuclear program in comparison with all facilities under the supervision of the agency in the world and the most widespread monitoring and verification,” he said.

He added that Iran would never surrender to pressure and had already warned western countries about the consequences of this “illogical and destructive” move.

“In the first step, several measures were put on the AEOI agenda and were implemented [on Sunday] in the presence of IAEA inspectors at the Natanz and Fordow enrichment plants,” he said.

Iran would continue its peaceful nuclear program based on the countries’ needs and in accordance with its rights and obligations under international treaties to which it is a party, he added.

New Circumstances

An Iranian team had travelled to Vienna, Austria, ahead of the board meeting, where they agreed to continue talks to resolve the outstanding issues in a future visit by and IAEA delegation to Tehran, but Iran later cancelled the trip.

“Naturally the next steps will be taken based on the new circumstances and the conditions need to reevaluated,” Kanaani told reporters.

Iran expected western countries to avoid political moves and allow the Islamic Republic’s cooperation with the agency, which had entered a new phase following the meetings in Vienna, to continue and reach a favorable outcome for both sides, he said.

“But the US and three European countries’ measure at the IAEA Board of Governors showed that they still intend to disrupt Iran’s technical cooperation with the agency,” he said.

He stressed that besides its IAEA-related obligations, Iran also has rights that need to be upheld.

The sponsors of the recent resolution have signaled intentions to refer Iran to the United Nations Security Council for not complying with its nuclear obligations in their next move.

Asked about Tehran’s position, Kanaani said Iran would show a “serious, firm and effective reaction” to any possible unconstructive measure of such kind.

He called on those countries to stop political exploitation of international organizations and allow them to meet their professional and legal duties.