Anti-Iran Resolution at IAEA to Upset Situation: Zarif

Speaking to reporters after a meeting with members of the Parliament’s National Security and Foreign Policy Commission on Monday, Zarif warned of agitation in case the International Atomic Energy Agency’s Board of Governors issues a statement against Iran over its decision to suspend the voluntary implementation of the Additional Protocol of the NPT.

“The Europeans (the UK, France and Germany) have begun a wrong move at the (IAEA’s) Board of Governors with backing of the US. We believe such an action would upset the conditions,” the foreign minister added.

He also noted that Iran’s ambassador to the Vienna-based international organizations has already warned the Board of Governors about the ramification of confusing the status quo.

“We hope wisdom would prevail, otherwise, we would have (other) approaches,” Zarif warned.

According to the Iranian Parliament’s ‘Strategic Action’ on lifting sanctions and safeguarding national interests, ratified in October 2020, Tehran has halted the voluntary implementation of the Additional Protocol because the signatories to the 2015 nuclear deal have failed to honor their commitments.

Following last week’s visit to Tehran by the IAEA director general, Tehran and the UN nuclear watchdog issued a joint statement, declaring that Iran will stop its voluntary implementation of the Additional Protocol and will deny IAEA inspectors access to its nuclear facilities beyond the Safeguards Agreement as of February 23, 2021 for three months.