Grossi: Nuclear Deal Not Possible Until Iran Resolves its Issues with Agency

The head of the UN nuclear watchdog, Rafael Grossi (L), is welcomed to Tehran by Atomic Energy Organization of Iran spokesman Behrouz Kamalvandi - Atomic Energy Organization of Iran/AFP
The head of the UN nuclear watchdog, Rafael Grossi (L), is welcomed to Tehran by Atomic Energy Organization of Iran spokesman Behrouz Kamalvandi - Atomic Energy Organization of Iran/AFP
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Grossi: Nuclear Deal Not Possible Until Iran Resolves its Issues with Agency

The head of the UN nuclear watchdog, Rafael Grossi (L), is welcomed to Tehran by Atomic Energy Organization of Iran spokesman Behrouz Kamalvandi - Atomic Energy Organization of Iran/AFP
The head of the UN nuclear watchdog, Rafael Grossi (L), is welcomed to Tehran by Atomic Energy Organization of Iran spokesman Behrouz Kamalvandi - Atomic Energy Organization of Iran/AFP

International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) chief Rafael Grossi said on Saturday that reviving the 2015 nuclear deal between Iran and world powers will not be possible without first settling Tehran's issues with the agency.

Iran's nuclear chief Mohammad Eslami told a joint news conference in Tehran with Grossi that outstanding issues would be resolved toward the end of June.

Tehran has agreed to "present documents to the IAEA to close remaining issues", he said.

Tehran and Washington have held more than 11 months of indirect talks in Vienna on reviving the pact, which was abandoned in 2018 by former US President Donald Trump, who also reimposed far-reaching sanctions on Iran.

The 2015 deal limited Iran's enrichment of uranium, to make it harder for Tehran to develop material for nuclear weapons, in return for a lifting of economic sanctions.

All parties involved in the talks aimed at bringing Tehran and Washington back into compliance with the nuclear pact have said they were close to reaching an agreement in Vienna.

One wildcard is an effort by the IAEA to resolve questions about nuclear material that the Vienna-based agency suspects Iran failed to declare Grossi said there are matters that still need to be addressed by Iran.



European Powers May Restore UN Sanctions on Iran

FILED - 18 July 2024, United Kingdom, Woodstock: UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy gives an interview at the European Political Community summit. Photo: Michael Kappeler/dpa
FILED - 18 July 2024, United Kingdom, Woodstock: UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy gives an interview at the European Political Community summit. Photo: Michael Kappeler/dpa
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European Powers May Restore UN Sanctions on Iran

FILED - 18 July 2024, United Kingdom, Woodstock: UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy gives an interview at the European Political Community summit. Photo: Michael Kappeler/dpa
FILED - 18 July 2024, United Kingdom, Woodstock: UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy gives an interview at the European Political Community summit. Photo: Michael Kappeler/dpa

The European troika, known as the E3, may restore UN sanctions on Iran under the snapback mechanism, British Foreign Secretary David Lammy said on Tuesday, warning that the move could increase Tehran's suffering unless it takes a serious stance on stepping back from its nuclear program.

Speaking to the UK parliament’s foreign affairs select committee, Lammy said: “Iran faces even more pressure in the coming weeks because the E3 can snap back on our sanctions, and it’s not just our sanctions, it’s actually a UN mechanism that would impose dramatic sanctions on Iran across nearly every single front in its economy.”

“So they have a choice to make. It’s a choice for them to make. I’m very clear about the choice they should make, but I’m also clear that the UK has a decision to make that could lead to far greater pain for the Iranian regime unless they get serious about the international desire to see them step back from their nuclear ambitions,” he added.

Meanwhile, a French diplomatic source told Reuters on Tuesday that European powers would have to restore UN sanctions on Iran if there were no nuclear deal that guaranteed European security interests.

The source spoke after a call between French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot and Lammy ahead of a Franco-British summit.

Last Thursday, France threatened “retaliatory measures” against Tehran if it persisted with new charges against a French couple held in Iran, including accusations that they spied for Israel.

Snapback Mechanism

France, Britain and Germany - the E3 – are threatening to activate the snapback mechanism that would reinstate all United Nations Security Council sanctions previously levied on Iran.

According to diplomats, the E3 countries may trigger the snapback by August if no substantial deal can be found by then. The window closes on October 18.

UN resolution 2231 allows a State Party to the agreement to address a complaint to the Security Council about significant non-performance by another JCPOA participant.

Within 30 days of receiving such a notification, the UN Security Council shall vote on a draft resolution to either maintain the termination of previous sanctions or allow them to be reimposed.

European powers are considering triggering the snapback mechanism after Iran's decision to suspend cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).