Iran fighting for its nuclear rights on two fronts amid shaky IAEA ties, stalled U.S. talks

As the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Board of Governors convenes in Vienna this week, Iran faces mounting pressure on two fronts—fighting to avoid the reinstatement of UN nuclear sanctions and seeking relief from unilateral US sanctions—amid stalled indirect negotiations with Washington

Iran is fighting on dual fronts to prevent the return of UN nuclear sanctions and to rid of the unilateral US sanctions while the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) meets this week in Vienna and Tehran’s indirect talks with Washington have come to a standstill.

The sessions of UN nuclear watchdog’s Board of Governors which open today running up to Friday are expected to intensify the Iran-IAEA showdown as the US and the European troika of France, Germany and the UK(E3), using the latest IAEA report, intend to table a joint draft resolution blaming Iran of non-compliance.

According to the IAEA website, there are two items on the agenda of this week’s BoG meeting on Iran -- verification and monitoring in the Islamic Republic of Iran in light of United Nations Security Council resolution 2231 (2015) and NPT Safeguards Agreement with the Islamic Republic of Iran, however, the new round of Iran-IAEA dispute erupted  two weeks ago when excerpts of the agency’s confidential report on Tehran’s nuclear program were leaked to media.

Dismissing the report as “politically motivated and unbalanced” and saying it was prepared under pressure of certain countries, Iran responded stating it does not have any undeclared nuclear material or activity.

It also vowed to respond strongly to the IAEA decision on whether to report Iran to the UN Security Council based on the emerging conditions and developments.

While Iran and the US have been negotiating indirectly mediated by Oman since April, the E3 as signatories of the 2015 nuclear deal with Iran, known as the JCPoA, have been pushing for return of the UN nuclear sanctions which were lifted under UN Security Council Resolution 2231 months after JCPoA was signed in Vienna.

On Friday, Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi reacted strongly to European troika’s plan, saying “Instead of engaging in good faith, the E3 is opting for malign action against Iran at the IAEA Board of Governors. When the E3 engaged in the same foul conduct back in 2005, the outcome in many ways was the true birth of uranium enrichment in Iran. Has the E3 truly learned nothing in the past two decades?”

The so-called “trigger mechanism” provided for under the Vienna nuclear agreement which is sought by the E3 will be used if IAEA finds Iran in breach of its obligations and will be proposed at the UN Security Council meeting in October.

“After years of good cooperation with the IAEA—resulting in a resolution which shut down malign claims of a "possible military dimension" (PMD) to Iran's peaceful nuclear program—my country is once again accused of "non-compliance", Iran’s top diplomat wrote on his X account.

“Mark my words as Europe ponders another major strategic mistake: Iran will react strongly against any violation of its rights. Blame lies solely and fully with irresponsible actors who stop at nothing to gain relevance.”

The joint E3-U.S. draft resolution has portrayed a dim prospect before the ongoing Iran-U.S. talks while the sixth round of the discussions which was expected to be held prior to the IAEA meeting, remained in limbo and ultimately did not convene.

While Iran demanded removal of the U.S. unilateral sanctions and the U.S. was pushing for ‘zero enrichment’ in the currently stalled talks, a report on the U.S. proposal relayed to Iran via Oman seemed to be the light at the end of tunnel. However, it turned out to be a train running in the opposite direction.

“No enrichment, no deal. No nuclear weapons, we have a deal,” Araghchi wrote in message on X last week dismissing halting Iran’s enrichment capability and echoed other Iranian officials who have rejected the U.S. demand as a “non-negotiable redline”.

While both Tehran and Washington have avoided disclosing details of their talks including the US proposal, unconfirmed news media reports said it suggested a consortium of regional countries for uranium enrichment by Iran.

As days tick by and by before the IAEA Board of Governors concludes on Friday, its crucial decision on Iran determines whether dust of the showdown over Iran’s nuclear program will settle or spin stronger in the weeks ahead.

“The Islamic Republic of Iran will adopt and implement appropriate measures … in order to safeguard the country’s legitimate rights and interests. The consequences and responsibility for such actions will rest with those countries,” read a joint statement issued by Iran’s Foreign Ministry and the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran.

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