Europe’s Big 3 set to censure Iran
US ‘DISAPPOINTED IN IRAN’S RESPONSE ON NUCLEAR TALKS’
The three European members of the 2015 Iran nuclear deal will put forward a resolution condemning Iran’s suspension of some inspections by the UN nuclear watchdog, diplomatic sources said yesterday.
France, Germany and the UK will propose it during this week’s meeting of the UN nuclear watchdog’s board of governors, a delicate moment for diplomacy on the Iranian nuclear issue.
The proposed resolution could derail the temporary agreement that International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) chief Rafael Grossi hammered out with Iran to mitigate what he calls the “huge loss” of some IAEA inspections.
In Washington, the US said it was disappointed that Iran had ruled out an informal meeting to discuss ways to revive its 2015 nuclear deal with major powers, but said it remained ready to reengage in meaningful diplomacy on the issue. “While we are disappointed at Iran’s response, we remain ready to reengage in meaningful diplomacy to achieve a mutual return to compliance with JCPOA commitments,” a White House spokeswoman said, referring to the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, or Iran nuclear deal.
She said Washington would be consulting with its P5+1 partners, the four other permanent members of the UN Security Council — China, France, Russia, United Kingdom — plus Germany on the best way forward.
A document circulated by the Iranian mission in Vienna and seen by AFP said the introduction of a critical resolution would effectively end the temporary agreement with the IAEA.
Russian opposition
Under that three-month arrangement, which went into force on February 23, Iran has pledged to keep recordings “of some activities and monitoring equipment” and hand them over to the IAEA as and when US sanctions are lifted. Sources say the European resolution is expected to come to a vote on Friday and is backed by the US.
A version of the text seen by AFP “expresses serious concern at Iran’s decision to stop implementing” some inspections-related commitments and “urges Iran to immediately resume implementation”.
The prospect of Iran suspending the temporary agreement with the IAEA in retaliation was described by one diplomatic source as “a risk to be taken” to protect “the credibility of the agency” and stand up to Iranian “blackmail”.
They were confident the resolution would be adopted, the source added. If a resolution censuring Iran is passed, it would be the first one since June, which was itself the first in eight years.
Russia opposes any such resolution. Such a move would be an “unfortunate miscalculation”, ambassador Mikhail Ulyanov said.
Israel accused Iran of attacking one of its cargo ships in the Gulf of Oman last week, as tensions mount over the US’s desire to rejoin a nuclear deal with Tehran.
“It was indeed an act by Iran, that’s clear,” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said yesterday. Iran “is Israel’s greatest enemy and we are striking it across the region.”
Israeli media reported that the country launched missile strikes on Iranian targets in Syria over the weekend in response to the assault on the ship. Israel’s military did not comment.
The Israeli-owned car carrier, the Helios Ray, was struck by an explosion while sailing 100km off the coast of Oman either on February 25 or the early hours of February 26.
A spokesman for the Iranian Foreign Ministry, Saeed Khatibzadeh, said “we categorically reject” Israel’s allegation that Tehran was to blame.
Friction between the countries has been high as US President Joe Biden explores rejoining a 2015 accord designed to reduce Tehran’s nuclear activities.
Why Netanyahu is opposed to US returning to deal
Netanyahu opposes Washington returning to the pact, saying it would pave the way for Iran to build a nuclear weapon. Biden’s predecessor, Donald Trump, withdrew the US from the deal in 2018 and tightened sanctions on Tehran.
Iran has accused Israel of several attacks in the past year. It said Israel sabotaged one of its nuclear facilities in July and assassinated a top Iranian nuclear scientist in November.
Israeli Education Minister Yoav Galant, a retired general, told the Ynet news website the damage was caused by a mine “apparently attached to the exterior by a commando force in a nighttime naval operation.”
The attackers would have known from open-source material it was an Israeli vessel, Galant said. The Helios Ray, owned by Tel Aviv-based Ray Shipping Ltd., was travelling from Dammam in Saudi Arabia to Singapore. It had traversed the Strait of Hormuz when the explosion occurred.