IAEA Vows ‘Firm’ Approach with Iran, West Scraps Resolution Criticizing Tehran

UN nuclear watchdog chief Rafael Grossi (IAEA)
UN nuclear watchdog chief Rafael Grossi (IAEA)
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IAEA Vows ‘Firm’ Approach with Iran, West Scraps Resolution Criticizing Tehran

UN nuclear watchdog chief Rafael Grossi (IAEA)
UN nuclear watchdog chief Rafael Grossi (IAEA)

UN nuclear watchdog chief Rafael Grossi on Monday expressed “concern” towards not receiving answers or any promises regarding cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to detect traces of uranium at three Iranian sites.

Despite being small in nature, the results of Grossi’s visit to Tehran were enough to push Western countries to scrap plans for a resolution criticizing Iran.

In a press conference, Grossi reaffirmed that he will move forward in resolving problems with the new Iranian government under President Ebrahim Raisi, which he described as a “hardline” administration in its dealing with the nuclear deal and policy of cooperation with the IAEA.

Despite this, Grossi said he is determined to hold a dialogue with the new government to find solutions for unresolved issues.

“From day one, my approach to Iran has been firm and fair,” said Grossi, who had traveled to Tehran over the weekend.

Upon his return, Grossi announced that communication had been re-established with Iran, and that Tehran had agreed to allow IAEA inspectors to replace the batteries and memory cards of the surveillance cameras inside its nuclear facilities.

“This agreement cannot be permanent,” said Grossi, explaining that the arrangement filled some gaps and allowed an opportunity for diplomacy.

“Iran played its cards well,” one Vienna-based diplomat told Reuters of the weekend agreement.

“The promise to continue high-level discussions on the outstanding issues managed to deflate the pressure for a resolution, even if what Grossi brought back from Tehran was pitifully little.”

For his part, Grossi confirmed he will meet with the chief of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran, Mohammad Eslami, next week.

The meeting will take place on the sidelines of the IAEA’s annual general assembly and will aim to complete talks Grossi started in Tehran.



Taiwanese Rally For, Against the Recall of Opposition Lawmakers Seen as Close to China

A Taiwan flag can be seen at Liberty Square in Taipei, Taiwan, July 28, 2022. REUTERS/Ann Wang/File Photo
A Taiwan flag can be seen at Liberty Square in Taipei, Taiwan, July 28, 2022. REUTERS/Ann Wang/File Photo
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Taiwanese Rally For, Against the Recall of Opposition Lawmakers Seen as Close to China

A Taiwan flag can be seen at Liberty Square in Taipei, Taiwan, July 28, 2022. REUTERS/Ann Wang/File Photo
A Taiwan flag can be seen at Liberty Square in Taipei, Taiwan, July 28, 2022. REUTERS/Ann Wang/File Photo

Threats from China and anger over legislative deadlock are dominating Taiwan's political discourse as residents rally for and against a campaign to recall two dozen opposition Nationalist Party lawmakers in polling to be held on Saturday.

Thousands of supporters of the independence-leaning ruling Democratic Progressive Party turned out in the heart of the capital Taipei on Thursday to hear from civil society activists, writers, musicians and others who support the recalls, which could potentially give the party, also known as the DPP, a majority in the legislature.

The DPP won last year’s presidential election, but came up short in the legislature, The AP news reported.

Since then, the China-friendly Nationalists, also known as the KMT, and their allies have sought to hobble the power of the executive and blocked key legislation, especially the defense budget.

That has been seen as undermining both Taiwan’s hard-won democracy and its ability to deter China’s threat to invade the island it considers its own territory. Those concerns prompted activists to campaign for recall votes in the districts where Nationalists were seen as most vulnerable, and they succeeded in 24 districts where votes are scheduled this weekend.

A recall measures must win 40% of the constituents in a district to succeed, after which a special election will be held to fill the seat, in which all parties can compete.

The KMT and the smaller Taiwan People’s Party together hold a majority in the parliament with 62 seats, while the ruling DPP holds 51 seats.

The KMT on Thursday sent some of its best known politicians, including the mayor of Taipei, the speaker of the legislature and the party chairman, out to urge voters to oppose the recall. It also planned a rally in Taipei on Friday. The KMT calls the measure a power grab by the DPP and a threat to multi-party democracy.

Perhaps more than any issue, China has loomed over the campaign, with both its officials and state media dismissing the recall effort as a further futile attempt to preclude what they call the inevitability of Beijing's annexation of Taiwan, either by military or peaceful means.

On Taiwan, it has brought out differences between Taiwanese who favor pursuing the current path and those who seek accommodation with Beijing. China-friendly politicians have been accused of selling out Taiwan for accepting trips to the mainland and meetings with Chinese politicians, while they defend themselves as keeping open lines of communication in light of Beijing's refusal to interact with the DPP.

The recall campaign — Taiwan's first — was prompted by anti-KMT groups alarmed by the party's closeness with China, corruption and the KMT's refusal to work with President Lai Ching-te's administration.

They first needed to gather signatures from 10% of voters in each district, targeting legislators seen as particularly vulnerable or controversial and under China's influence. Each campaign seeking to unseat a single legislator required a huge organizational effort, limiting the number of KMT lawmakers targeted.

The KMT is primed to contest any special elections that must be called within six months, raising the possibility that they could win back the seats, and the DPP, although enlivened by the campaign, could still remain in the minority.