Iran Rejects IAEA Resolution Regarding Its Nuclear Facilities

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi (Wikimedia Commons/Mehr News Agency/Hamed Michelpour)

JAKARTA - The Iranian government said on Friday it rejected United Nations nuclear watchdog resolutions demanding access to nuclear sites hit by attacks in the escalation last June.

Iran's Foreign Ministry said the resolution approved by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) was "illegal and unjustified" and was made under pressure from the United States, Germany, France, and Britain.

"The actions of the three European and US countries in designing and imposing this resolution on the board of governors of the agency are another clear sign of their irresponsible approach and pressure to use the agency as a tool to pressure Iran," the ministry said, according to Mehr news agency. November 21.

The move "violates Iran's nuclear rights and disrupts the line of cooperation with the IAEA," the statement said.

Meanwhile, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said the UN nuclear watchdog would not be granted access to Iran's nuclear sites that were attacked during the recent war with Israel, without a concrete agreement agreed.

"Facilities that are attacked have their own stories, and until the decision is made and an agreement is reached between us, the IAEA, and other parties, cooperation is impossible," he said in an interview posted on his Telegram channel on Thursday, without specifying what would be included in the agreement.

The interview with the Khabar Online news agency was conducted before the IAEA adopted a resolution on Thursday demanding access to these locations.

Earlier, Foreign Minister Araghchi on Wednesday said he refused to allow UN visits to bombing locations, including the Natanz uranium enrichment plant and Fordow's underground enrichment complex.

"We are only working together regarding nuclear facilities that have not been affected, in accordance with IAEA regulations," he said on Telegram.

It is known that the IAEA Board of Governors on Thursday was a resolution demanding Iran to provide "full and immediate" cooperation, including access to sensitive nuclear locations.

This resolution was submitted by France, Britain, Germany (E3) to the US and passed by 19 votes. Meanwhile, Russia, China, and Niger opposed the resolution.

Tensions that have long burned with the UN nuclear watchdog agency have flared up again after Israeli and US attacks on Iranian sites in June. UN inspectors do not yet have access to the damaged complex.

The resolution "involving Iran to fully and without delay comply with its legal obligations" based on the resolution of the UN Security Council in effect "and to provide full and immediate cooperation to the IAEA, including by providing the information and access requested by the agency."