Iran’s stance on IAEA probe jeopardises N-talks: Europe
Tehran’s demand that UN N-watchdog close a probe into uranium particles found at 3 sites raises serious doubts about Iran’s intentions, say France, UK and Germany
France, Britain and Germany on Saturday vented their frustration at Iran’s demand in talks to revive its 2015 nuclear deal that the UN nuclear watchdog close a probe into uranium particles found at three sites, adding that it was jeopardising the talks.
Iran earlier this month sent its latest response to the European Union’s proposed text to revive the agreement under which Tehran had restrained its nuclear programme in exchange for relief from US, EU and UN economic sanctions.
Diplomats have said Iran’s response to the EU coordinator was a step backwards, with it seeking to link a revival of the deal with the closure of investigations by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) into the uranium traces.
“This latest demand raises serious doubts as to Iran’s intentions and commitment to a successful outcome on the JCPOA,” the three countries, known as the E3, said in a statement, referring to the deal’s full name, the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action.
“Iran’s position contradicts its legally binding obligations and jeopardises prospects of restoring the JCPOA.”
Then-us President Donald Trump abandoned the deal in 2018 and re-imposed US sanctions, prompting Iran to start breaching the deal’s nuclear curbs and reviving US, Arab and Israeli fears it may be seeking an atomic bomb. Iran denies having nuclear ambitions.
The IAEA’S Board of Governors meet on Monday, three months ater already adopting a resolution urging Iran to give credible answers to the watchdog.
The IAEA said on Wednesday Iran’s stock of uranium enriched to up to 60%, close to weaponsgrade, had grown to enough, if enriched further, for a nuclear bomb and that Tehran had still failed to explain the origin of the uranium particles.
“Given Iran’s failure to conclude the deal on the table, we will consult, alongside international partners, on how best to address Iran’s continued nuclear escalation and lack of cooperation with the IAEA regarding its NPT (non-proliferation treaty) safeguards agreement,” they E3 said.
Iran seizes ship: Separately, Iranian naval forces have seized a foreign-registered ship they said was smuggling fuel in the Gulf and arrested its crew, state media reported on Saturday.
“A foreign vessel carrying 757,000 litres of smuggled fuel has been seized,” the state broadcaster’s website quoted a commander of the Revolutionary Guards maritime forces as saying.
“The seven crew members, who are foreign nationals, have been arrested and handed over to judicial authorities,” General Ramazan Zirahi added, without specifying their nationalities.
It is not known when the vessel was seized, or what flag it sailed under.
“The vessel, that intended to transport and deliver its cargo of fuel to other countries, was seized 60 miles off the coast of Iran,” Zirahi said.
Albania cyberatack: Meanwhile, Albania has suffered a renewed cyberatack, the country’s interior ministry said on Saturday, blaming Iran which Tirana also accused of an earlier assault on its digital systems.
“The national police’s computer systems were hit Friday by a cyberatack which, according to initial information, was commited by the same actors who in July atacked the country’s public and government service systems,” the ministry said in a statement.
Albania blamed Iran for the July atack and on Wednesday cut diplomatic ties over the affair.
The two countries have been biter foes for years, since the Balkan state began hosting members of the opposition People’s Mujahedeen of Iran, or Mujahedeen-e-khalq (MEK), on its soil.
Prime Minister Edi Rama on Wednesday accused Iran of directing a cyberatack against Albanian institutions on July 15 in a bid to “paralyse public services and hack data and electronic communications from the government systems”.
It was the first time Tirana spoke about the alleged atack. “The Council of Ministers has decided on the severance of diplomatic relations with the Islamic Republic of Iran with immediate effect,” said Rama.
“The said atack failed its purpose. Damages may be considered minimal compared to the goals of the aggressor. All systems came back fully operational and there was no irreversible wiping of data.”