Iranian Lawmakers Ask Gov’t to Halt Implementation of NPT Additional Protocol

“The Islamic Republic of Iran, as a country that has had the highest level of cooperation and transparency with the IAEA in 50 years of NPT, considers IAEA Board of Governor’s resolution as an excessive demand,” read a statement signed by 240 legislators on Sunday.

Iran has implemented the Additional Protocol voluntarily beyond its commitments, noted the MPs, adding that during the past five years, IAEA has had the toughest inspections on Iranian cites based on the protocol.

Appreciating the stance of those states who have voted against this scandal (IAEA draft resolution), lawmakers noted that this non-binding resolution is a sign of a dominating culture that rules over the IAEA.

European governments’ pressure for the ‘so-called preservation’ of the JCPOA indicates that they have had an unconstructive view towards the Iranian people’s rights and have assumed the JCPOA as a tool to pursue their own objectives, the statement added.

The approval of E3-proposed resolution proves that these countries have “once again fallen into the US and Israeli regime’s trap”, dealing another blow to multilateralism, the statement continued.

The Iranian Parliament believes succumbing to such a ‘political blackmailing’ equals to forging a wrong approach in accepting the culture of ‘hegemony’ that will lead to increased structural discrimination in the NPT, the statement further read.

“The Iranian Parliament urges the government to stop voluntary implementation of Additional Protocol and change inspections into offline.”

Lawmakers hoped that the IAEA would revise its ‘wrong and dangerous’ approach towards interaction with Iran and carry out its safeguards regime “independently and professionally not under the influence of political and hostile pressures of some members of the Board of Governors.”

In relevant remarks on Saturday, Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Seyed Abbas Mousavi blasted the IAEA Board of Governors’ resolution against Tehran which had been proposed by the three European members of the nuclear deal, saying that they have been entrapped in a dangerous game arranged by the US and Israel.

“What has happened at the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Board of Governors is not acceptable to the Islamic Republic of Iran because Iran has had the highest and most transparent cooperation with the Agency and the Board within the framework of the safeguards,” Mousavi said.

He said that the resolution has been prepared based on baseless allegations and pretexts against Iran, lambasting the three European states for their bizarre behavior.

“Although they are members of the nuclear deal and are aware of the conditions and the records related to the case, unfortunately they have entered an unconstructive and dangerous game.”

“We think that they have been entangled in a trap laid by the Zionists and Americans for them and showed to our nation that they are incapable and untrustworthy countries,” Mousavi said, warning of the consequences of the resolution for those who have prepared it.