Iran calls for E3 independence in nuclear talks, agrees with IAEA visit minus inspection

Iran has called on the E3 to act independently in nuclear negotiations while approving an International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) visit that excludes formal inspections.

Iran has urged Europe to act independently of the U.S. in its nuclear policy with Iran warning that a coordination beforehand will result in failure of the upcoming talks with European powers for Friday in Istanbul.

Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi said in New York that the negotiations with the European powers (E3) – France, Germany and the UK – in Turkiye will remain inconclusive in the event that the European side keeps matching its policy on Tehran’s nuclear programme with the U.S.

Speaking to reporters at the United Nations headquarters following his three days of negotiations at the world body, he said if the European troika demands snapback of nuclear sanctions, Iran is determined to react.

“We will be obliged to react,” he added, “A section of Iran’s response has been decided in advance.”

The E3 have threatened to call for snapback or fast return of the UN sanctions on Iran in October if they do not reach a deal with Tehran by end of August.

The sanctions were terminated in 2015 by UN Resolution 2231 endorsing the nuclear agreement or the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) the same year in Vienna between Iran on one side and the E3 plus China, Russian and U.S. on the other.

Gharibabadi did not rule out Tehran’s quitting the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) in case the sanctions are re-imposed and said, “Iran has not decided whether to stay or withdraw from NPT, but it is on the table.”

IAEA can visit Iran

He confirmed Iran has agreed experts from the IAEA can visit in the next 2-3 weeks to discuss future bilateral cooperation under new conditions.

Tehran suspended its cooperation with the UN nuclear watchdog in reaction to the agency’s failing to condemn the US-Israel attacks on Iran’s nuclear sites which are under IAEA safeguards.

The Iranian deputy foreign minister said, the IAEA team will not visit any nuclear sites particularly the three nuclear facilities bombed by the U.S. during the 12-day war.

Consultation with China and Russia

Prior to the crucial discussions with E3 in Istanbul, Iran consulted with China and Russia about the threat by the European powers on return of the UN sanctions.

Gharibabadi met with senior Russian and Chinese diplomats in New York ahead of the decisive encounter in Turkiye and delegates from foreign ministries of Iran, China, and Russia met in Tehran on Tuesday to discuss the latest developments in Iran’s nuclear programe.

The tri-partite diplomatic consultations in Tehran and New York were significant because both China and Russia as signatories of the 2015 Iran nuclear deal are also permanent members of the UN Security Council. They possess the power to veto any draft resolution against Iran in October, including one by E3 or U.S. proposing renewed UN sanctions.

Iran has seriously questioned Europe’s right to reinstate UN sanctions and vowed to retaliate including by withdrawing from the NPT.

Letter to United Nations Secretary General

Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi in a post on his X account said he sent a letter to UN secretary general, chair-state of the Security Council, and EU foreign policy chief outlining why the E3 lacks legal, political, and moral standing to invoke the snapback mechanisms of the JCPOA and UN Resolution 2231.

He said, "The E3 “cannot and should not be allowed to undermine the credibility of the UN Security Council by abusing a Resolution to which they themselves have not been committed”.

With less than a day to the nuclear talks in Istanbul, there are unconfirmed reports suggesting that E3 may extend the October deadline on re-imposing of sanctions if chances are high that Russia and China will veto a U.S.-E3 draft resolution.

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