US, E3 to push IAEA to declare Iran in breach of nuclear commitments
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Western powers plan to push the IAEA to declare Iran in breach of nuclear obligations, marking the first such move in nearly 20 years, escalating tensions despite indirect and direct talks.
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An Iranian security official in protective clothing walks through part of the Uranium Conversion Facility just outside the Iranian city of Isfahan, March 30, 2005 (AP)
Western powers, led by the United States and its European allies Britain, France, and Germany (E3), are preparing to push the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to formally declare Iran in breach of its nuclear non-proliferation obligations at the upcoming quarterly Board of Governors meeting set for June 9, according to diplomatic sources.
This would be the first such declaration in nearly two decades and is expected to provoke a strong reaction from Tehran. Diplomats say the move is aimed at increasing pressure on Iran, as indirect talks with the US and negotiations with the E3 are ongoing.
Comprehensive IAEA report expected to be damning
Ahead of the board meeting, the IAEA is preparing its quarterly reports on Iran. One of these will be a comprehensive assessment of Iran’s cooperation with the agency, as demanded by a board resolution in November. Diplomats expect the report to present serious concerns about Iran’s compliance.
"We expect the comprehensive report to be tough, but there were already no doubts over Iran not keeping its non-proliferation commitments," said one European official.
Draft resolution to declare Iran in breach
Following the release of the report, the United States is expected to draft a resolution declaring Iran in violation of its safeguards obligations. Western diplomats confirmed that consultations are underway with other board members before the formal submission of the resolution by the US and E3 during the June meeting.
The IAEA board has passed all recent resolutions on Iran, and while opposition from Russia and China is expected, diplomats believe the resolution will pass again, with the primary question being the size of the majority.
Potential Security Council involvement
The last time the IAEA board made such a declaration was in 2005, which led to a 2006 referral to the UN Security Council and subsequent sanctions on Iran. It remains unclear when or if Western powers will seek Security Council referral again, and what actions the Council might take.
Iran, which reiterates that its nuclear program is peaceful and for civilian use only, rejects accusations of seeking nuclear weapons, citing religious principles that forbid such activity, as claims mount regarding Tehran's uranium enrichment activities. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi consistently reiterated Tehran’s principled stance on its legal entitlement to peaceful nuclear energy under the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT).
In a joint meeting with the delegation of the Pugwash International Conference on May 17, hosted by the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran, Araghchi emphasized that Iran, as a longstanding NPT member and a proponent of a nuclear-weapon-free zone in West Asia, has consistently acted in good faith by entering four rounds of indirect talks with the United States.
"The Islamic Republic of Iran is fully prepared to build confidence regarding the continuation of the peaceful nature of its nuclear program, but it cannot compromise on the legitimate and lawful right of the Iranian nation to peaceful nuclear energy—including enrichment, which according to the Non-Proliferation Treaty is granted to every member country," he indicated.
Read more: None of Iran’s nuclear facilities will be dismantled: Araghchi
