Iran: IAEA Head Visiting Tehran not Linked to Snapback
An upcoming visit this week by the head of the UN’s atomic watchdog agency to Tehran has nothing to do with a US push to impose so-called “snapback” sanctions on Iran.
Iran said Sunday that an upcoming visit this week by the head of the UN’s atomic watchdog agency to Tehran has nothing to do with a US push to impose so-called “snapback” sanctions on Iran.
On Sunday, IRNA quoted Iran’s envoy to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Kazem Gharibadadi, as saying that the visit on Monday is “neither related to the snapback mechanism nor the US demand.”
Gharibabadi said the visit by the IAEA chief Rafael Grossi comes within “the framework of Iran’s invitation.”
The United States was further isolated on Friday over its bid to reimpose international sanctions on Iran with 13 countries on the 15-member UN Security Council expressing their opposition, arguing that Washington’s move is void given it is using a process agreed under a nuclear deal that it quit two years ago.
Last week, the US administration dismissed near-universal opposition to its demand to restore all UN sanctions on Iran, declaring that a 30-day countdown for the “snapback” of penalties eased under the 2015 nuclear deal between Tehran and world powers had begun.
US allies and foes have joined forces to declare the action illegal and doomed to failure.
“We do not allow others to manage Iran,” Gharibabadi said, adding that Iran’s trust in the IAEA has been “damaged in recent months.”
He expressed the hope that Grossi’s visit will lead to building trust. “It is important to assure Tehran that the agency will move based on impartiality, independence and professionalism,” said Gharibabadi.
The IAEA’s director general said in a statement on Saturday he will travel to Tehran on Monday to meet high-level Iranian authorities.
The visit will be Grossi’s first trip to the country since he took office last December.
During his discussions in Tehran, Grossi will address the cooperation of Iran with the IAEA, and in particular Iran’s provision of access to the agency’s inspectors to requested locations, the UN agency’s official website reported.
“I have decided to come personally to Tehran so that I can reinforce the importance of cooperation and the full implementation of all safeguards commitments and obligations with the IAEA,” Grossi said.
The visit takes place over two months after the IAEA Board of Governors passed a resolution on June 19, put forward by Britain, France and Germany – the three European signatories to the landmark 2015 nuclear agreement, officially known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).
The resolution, the first of its kind since 2012, urges Iran to provide the IAEA inspectors with access to two sites that the trio claims may have been used for undeclared nuclear activities in the early 2000s.
The Islamic Republic rejects any allegations of non-cooperation with the IAEA, insisting that it is prepared to resolve potentially outstanding differences with the nuclear agency.
Immediately after the adoption of the IAEA report, Gharibabadi deplored it and said, “Adoption of this resolution will neither encourage Iran to grant access to the Agency based on fabricated and unfounded allegations, nor will it force Iran to come down from its principal positions.”
On Sunday, IRNA quoted Iran’s envoy to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Kazem Gharibadadi, as saying that the visit on Monday is “neither related to the snapback mechanism nor the US demand.”
Gharibabadi said the visit by the IAEA chief Rafael Grossi comes within “the framework of Iran’s invitation.”
The United States was further isolated on Friday over its bid to reimpose international sanctions on Iran with 13 countries on the 15-member UN Security Council expressing their opposition, arguing that Washington’s move is void given it is using a process agreed under a nuclear deal that it quit two years ago.
Last week, the US administration dismissed near-universal opposition to its demand to restore all UN sanctions on Iran, declaring that a 30-day countdown for the “snapback” of penalties eased under the 2015 nuclear deal between Tehran and world powers had begun.
US allies and foes have joined forces to declare the action illegal and doomed to failure.
“We do not allow others to manage Iran,” Gharibabadi said, adding that Iran’s trust in the IAEA has been “damaged in recent months.”
He expressed the hope that Grossi’s visit will lead to building trust. “It is important to assure Tehran that the agency will move based on impartiality, independence and professionalism,” said Gharibabadi.
The IAEA’s director general said in a statement on Saturday he will travel to Tehran on Monday to meet high-level Iranian authorities.
The visit will be Grossi’s first trip to the country since he took office last December.
During his discussions in Tehran, Grossi will address the cooperation of Iran with the IAEA, and in particular Iran’s provision of access to the agency’s inspectors to requested locations, the UN agency’s official website reported.
“I have decided to come personally to Tehran so that I can reinforce the importance of cooperation and the full implementation of all safeguards commitments and obligations with the IAEA,” Grossi said.
The visit takes place over two months after the IAEA Board of Governors passed a resolution on June 19, put forward by Britain, France and Germany – the three European signatories to the landmark 2015 nuclear agreement, officially known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).
The resolution, the first of its kind since 2012, urges Iran to provide the IAEA inspectors with access to two sites that the trio claims may have been used for undeclared nuclear activities in the early 2000s.
The Islamic Republic rejects any allegations of non-cooperation with the IAEA, insisting that it is prepared to resolve potentially outstanding differences with the nuclear agency.
Immediately after the adoption of the IAEA report, Gharibabadi deplored it and said, “Adoption of this resolution will neither encourage Iran to grant access to the Agency based on fabricated and unfounded allegations, nor will it force Iran to come down from its principal positions.”