Iran warns of 'destructive' impact as IAEA board passes West's resolution

Iran has repudiated a resolution submitted by the US and its allies to the UN nuclear agency’s Board of Governors, saying that its architects have drawn on recent riots in the country to pile up their political pressure on the Islamic Republic.

The International Atomic Energy Agency's board passed the resolution on Thursday, criticizing Iran for what it claimed as lack of cooperation with the UN nuclear agency.

The motion brought by the United States, Britain, France and Germany -- but voted against by China and Russia -- is the second of its kind within six months. 

Foreign Ministry Spokesman Nasser Kana’ani earlier warned that the measure would have "adverse effects" on the resolution of remaining technical issues with the agency. 

“As a delegate from the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI) has been progressively negotiating and interacting with the IAEA Director General [Rafael Grossi] in recent weeks to find a practical solution to the complex and technical issues pertaining to the Safeguards Agreement, there is neither a technical reason whatsoever nor a safeguards urgency to submit such a resolution against Iran,” Kan’ani noted.

“The submission of this unnecessary and destructive resolution, and the political abuse of the IAEA’s position and capacity by the US and the E3 countries have once again exposed the real intention of these countries to advance their political conspiracies and objectives,” Kan’ani said.

“We expect the independent and sovereign member statues of the IAEA Board of Governors, which attach paramount significance to the neutrality, independence and credibility of the agency as a technical institution, not to back the resolution and to declare their positions clearly,” he added.

Nevertheless, Kan’ani stressed that Iran is committed to the implementation of the Comprehensive Safeguard Agreement, and will continue to cooperate with the IAEA on the basis of the accord.

"One should not forget the fact that the uninterrupted implementation of the Safeguards and extensive verification activities of the IAEA in Iran have been possible over the past two decades only in light of Iran's cooperation and goodwill," he noted.

SS