Germany has warned Iran against blocking inspections by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), urging it to refrain from such move.
“It would be completely unacceptable should Iran obstruct IAEA inspections,” a German diplomat told Reuters.
“We urge Iran to refrain from this step, and are in close contact regarding this issue with our partners, including the United States,” the diplomat noted, adding that Iran needs to contribute to a de-escalation to give diplomacy a chance.
Iran said on Monday it will block snap inspections by the UN nuclear watchdog from next week if other parties to the 2015 nuclear deal do not uphold their obligations, a challenge to US President Joe Biden’s hope of reviving the accord.
Also, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani told his Swiss counterpart on Tuesday that Tehran’s strategy on the nuclear deal is “very clear.”
In a telephone conversation with Guy Parmelin, Rouhani stressed that once the US effectively lifts sanctions imposed on Iran everything will be put on the right track and Tehran will halt reducing its JCPOA commitments.
He said the ball is now in the US court, noting that renegotiating Iran’s nuclear deal is “impossible” and in violation of UN Security Council Resolution 2231.
Meanwhile, Iran’s Government Spokesman Ali Rabiei said in a press conference on Tuesday that his country will stop its voluntary implementation of the Additional Protocol next week if the US sanctions are not lifted.
However, he pointed out that this does not mean that Iran is going to halt its cooperation with the IAEA.
He said the move is clearly not what Iran would really want to do and is just a result of the US’ procrastination in lifting the sanctions and fulfilling its commitments under UN resolution 2231.
“We hope the three European countries and the US would use the short remaining time, and not make it more complicated to achieve a diplomatic solution to this unnecessary disagreement,” he added.
Since the sanctions have not been lifted so far, the government and the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI) are obliged to suspend the voluntary implementation of the Additional Protocol,” Rabiei noted, stressing that the country will no longer allow inspections beyond the IAEA Safeguards.
He affirmed that Iran can immediately stop the voluntary implementation of the Additional Protocol once the deadline set by the Iranian Parliament for the removal of sanctions passes.
“Iran is a member of the Safeguards, and based on its commitments, the majority of inspections – namely the ones that do not fall within the framework of the Additional Protocol – will remain in place,” Rabiei noted.
The new US administration has earlier announced it wants to re-enter the 2015 nuclear deal if the Iranians return to fulfilling their obligations.
