Tehran chose, Sunday February 28, to decline, temporarily, the informal meeting on the 2015 nuclear agreement, proposed by the European Union (EU) and including the United States.
“Given the recent positions and actions of the United States and the three European countries, [l’Iran] does not consider the appropriate time to hold the informal meeting proposed by the European coordinator ” of the 2015 nuclear deal, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh said in a statement.
The EU proposed an informal meeting in February between Iran and the United States, which the administration of US President Joe Biden accepted in principle. Since Mr Biden’s election, Washington, European parties – France, Germany, UK – and Tehran have been trying to salvage the Vienna Accord, which granted Iran relief from international sanctions in exchange for restrictions on its nuclear program.
Former US President Donald Trump withdrew Washington from the deal in 2018 and reimposed punitive sanctions against the Islamic Republic. “There has still been no change in the positions and behavior of the United States”Mr. Khatibzadeh continued, saying that the Biden administration was pursuing “Trump’s policy of maximum pressure” against Iran.
Page Contents
Narrow window of opportunity
The statements come as the Board of Governors of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) meets this week to strike a balance between firmness and restraint so as not to jeopardize the chances of saving the 2015 agreement. The quarterly meeting, which is being held by videoconference, will open Monday morning from the IAEA headquarters in Vienna.
“It is the common responsibility of the 35 governors to ensure that the debates [même houleux] do not negatively affect diplomatic efforts to fully restore the JCPOA [plan d’action global commun] “, warned Russian Ambassador Mikhail Ulyanov on his Twitter account. “We are in a race against time (…). The window of opportunity is getting very narrow ”, he added.
Mr Biden said he was ready to revive the deal, but insisted that Iran first revert to all of its nuclear commitments, most of which were suspended in response to US sanctions. Tehran, for its part, asks Washington to take the first step by removing sanctions.
United States “Have not even announced their commitment to fulfill their responsibilities” within the framework of the agreement and the UN Security Council resolution which enshrines it, Khatibzadeh said. According to the Iranian spokesperson, “America must end its illegal and unilateral sanctions and return to its commitments”. And “It does not need negotiations or resolutions”.
“Censorship is NOT diplomacy”
Shortly after his statement, the spokesperson said on Twitter: “Censorship is NOT diplomacy. It doesn’t work with Iran. “ Mr. Khatibzadeh stressed that Iran will continue to consult the other parties to the nuclear deal and the EU’s foreign minister, Josep Borrell, “In his capacity as coordinator [de l’accord], both bilaterally and multilaterally ”.
The White House said “Disappointed” But “Ready to resume a sensible diplomacy, in order to return to mutual respect for commitments” provided for in the 2015 agreement.
The Europeans have examined the possibility of submitting a text to the Board of Governors to express their concerns and call Iran to order, but nothing had yet been decided this weekend, according to diplomatic sources, specifying that the Iranian file shouldn’t be discussed until later in the week. The last warning dates back to June 2020 when the Islamic Republic refused to allow the inspection of two suspicious sites. This was the first critical resolution since 2012.
“The introduction of a resolution, in total disregard of constructive exchanges with the Agency, would be absolutely counterproductive and destructive”, warns the Islamic Republic in an informal paper sent to member states.
“Blackmail”
The Iranian authorities announced on Tuesday that they had started to limit certain IAEA inspections of its nuclear activities, after the expiry of the deadline set for the lifting of US sanctions. Britain, France and Germany said “Deeply regret” this decision of Tehran judged “Dangerous”.
IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi, who was in Tehran, then negotiated “A temporary technical agreement” three months to maintain surveillance, albeit reduced, of the nuclear program, thus offering a reprieve to the great powers to engage in talks.
Under the terms of this agreement, data on Iran’s nuclear program “Will be stored but not transmitted to the IAEA”, according to Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif. A situation far from being “Ideal” according to Mr. Grossi but which will allow the organization to continue to monitor “All key activities”. Tehran pledges to provide all camera data and other tools if sanctions are lifted within three months, but the footage would be “Forever deleted” otherwise.
In the event of a vote on a critical resolution against it, Iran threatened to ” end “ to this solution. For their part, Europeans do not appreciate what he describes as “Blackmail” from Tehran, explains a diplomat.
