The head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI), Mohammad Eslami, has ordered the activation of a “new and advanced series of centrifuges” in response to a resolution by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) against Tehran’s nuclear program.
“These measures are being taken to protect the country’s interests and further develop the peaceful nuclear industry, in line with the growing national needs and within the framework of Iran’s rights and obligations under the Comprehensive Safeguards Agreement,” the AEOI and the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated in a joint announcement on November 21, referring to Eslami’s decision.
The statement also emphasized that Tehran “remains ready for constructive engagement with relevant parties based on international legal principles and standards.”
It further claimed that the IAEA’s resolution was influenced by pressure from the European Troika – Britain, Germany, and France – along with the United States, describing this approach as “destructive.”
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi criticized the “unconstructive and unjustifiable” actions of France, Germany, and the UK in pushing for a resolution against Iran’s nuclear program at the IAEA Board of Governors meeting.
Araghchi highlighted the agreements reached between Iran and the IAEA during IAEA Director-General Rafael Grossi’s recent visit to Tehran. He warned that the “misguided actions” of the three European countries in pushing for the resolution would only weaken and disrupt cooperation between Iran and the agency.
IAEA Chief Grossi visited Tehran on November 13 for talks with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian to enhance Iran’s cooperation with the UN watchdog. During the visit, Tehran provisionally agreed to cap its enriched uranium stockpile at 60%.
Iran’s permanent representative to the UN office in Vienna, Mohsen Naziri Asl, stated that Iran’s nuclear activities are within the framework of Tehran’s “legitimate and legal rights.” He added that Iran is assessing how to proceed with the IAEA “in light of recent developments.”
The resolution adopted by the IAEA Board of Governors criticized Iran for “obstructing” the IAEA’s work. It urged Iran to “halt and reverse its nuclear escalation, refrain from making threats to produce nuclear weapons,” and “return to the limits imposed by the JCPOA [the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, also known as the Iranian nuclear deal], particularly those regarding enrichment.”
The resolution also called on Iran to “implement the Iran-IAEA March 2023 Joint Statement and its commitments regarding transparency and cooperation with the IAEA, including re-applying all transparency measures that were suspended in February 2021.”
Before the resolution’s adoption, Iranian authorities at various levels had warned of an “immediate” and proportionate response. On November 20, the Iranian Foreign Ministry reiterated this warning in a statement, noting that Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi conveyed similar messages during phone calls with counterparts from IAEA Board of Governors member states.
Ali Larijani, an adviser to Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, proposed two options to the U.S. government for resolving Iran’s nuclear issue. The first option is “to return” to the JCPOA, which the U.S. withdrew from in 2018 under then-President Donald Trump, Larijani said. The second option, he added, is to negotiate a new agreement acknowledging Iran’s right to nuclear technology as long as “it does not pursue a bomb.”
The IAEA has repeatedly expressed concerns over Iran’s growing stockpile of uranium enriched to 20% and 60%, as well as its lack of transparency regarding nuclear activities. In 2022, the IAEA Board of Governors twice censured Iran for insufficient cooperation with the agency’s investigations. In response, Tehran removed monitoring equipment, including cameras, from several nuclear sites in June of that year.
In March 2023, the IAEA detected uranium particles enriched to 83.7% purity – just below weapons-grade – at the Fordow facility. Under the JCPOA, Iran had agreed to limit uranium enrichment to 3.67% and cease all enrichment activities at Fordow. Low-enriched uranium (3-5% U-235) is typically used as fuel for nuclear power plants, while highly enriched uranium (20% or more) is used in research reactors. Weapons-grade uranium requires enrichment of 90% or higher.
Source » caspiannews