Western diplomats issued a harsh indictment against Iran on Thursday in Vienna and denounced the escalation of the Islamic Republic. Tehran defends the right to nuclear power for civilian purposes, particularly for energy.
Iran announced Friday, November 22 “take action” including the commissioning of “new advanced centrifuges”in retaliation for the adoption in Vienna of a critical resolution, singled out for its lack of cooperation. The text, drawn up by London, Paris and Berlin associated with Washington, was approved Thursday by 19 of the 35 member states of the Board of Governors of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), according to diplomatic sources interviewed by the AFP. Russia, China and Burkina Faso voted against, while 12 countries abstained. Venezuela was unable to participate.
After the vote, the representative of Iran criticized AFP for a gesture “politically motivated”. Accordingly, “the head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran ordered to take effective measures, including putting into operation a series of new advanced centrifuges of different types”indicated in a joint statement the OIEA and the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The text validated Thursday in Vienna, whose significance is symbolic at this stage, reminds Iran of its “legal obligations”under the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) ratified in 1970.
Western diplomats made a harsh indictment against Iran on Thursday in Vienna and denounced the escalation of the Islamic Republic, with American Ambassador Laura Holgate reporting nuclear activities “deeply disturbing”. Tehran defends the right to nuclear power for civilian purposes, particularly for energy, but denies wanting to acquire an atomic bomb, which Western countries suspect. The NPT requires signatory states to declare and place their nuclear materials under the control of the IAEA.
“Goodwill”
In 2015, Iran concluded an agreement in Vienna with France, Germany, the United Kingdom, China, Russia and the United States to regulate its nuclear program. In return, the text provided for a reduction in international sanctions against Tehran. But in 2018, Donald Trump, then President of the United States, unilaterally withdrew his country from the agreement – with which Tehran complied, according to the IAEA – and reinstated heavy sanctions against Iran.
In retaliation, Tehran significantly increased its reserves of enriched materials and raised the threshold to 60%, close to the 90% needed to make an atomic weapon, under the IAEA definition. The nuclear agreement, now an empty shell that negotiations failed to revive in 2022, capped this rate at 3.67%. Iran has also severely restricted its cooperation with the UN nuclear watchdog since 2021, disconnecting surveillance cameras and withdrawing the accreditation of experienced inspectors.
Iranian President Massoud Pezeshkian, in power since July and a supporter of dialogue with Western countries, said he wanted to lift “doubts and ambiguities” on his country's nuclear program. Iran thus considers that it has demonstrated “goodwill” by inviting the head of the IAEA, Rafael Grossi, to Iran last week to visit the nuclear sites of Natanz and Fordo (center). This trip was seen as one of the last chances for diplomacy before the return in January to the White House of Donald Trump, architect of a so-called policy of “maximum pressure” against Iran during his first term (2017-2021).
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