Iran denounces G7 statement on N-program, Ukraine war involvement

Iran has strongly rejected as “unfounded and irresponsible” a joint statement by the foreign ministers of the Group of Seven (G7) about Tehran’s nuclear program and its alleged support of Russia in the war with Ukraine.

The Foreign Ministry categorically refuted the statement issued in Niagara, Canada on Tehran’s resumption of total cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) as well as the accusation of its role in the Russia-Ukraine war.

Spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei said in a statement on Thursday that G7’s accusations are “unfounded, irresponsible and totally unacceptable”.

G7 is an intergovernmental economic and political forum that brings together Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom and the United States.

At the end of their meeting on Wednesday, the G7 foreign ministers leveled accusations against Tehran for providing military support to Moscow in the Ukraine war, urging it to resume complete cooperation with the UN nuclear watchdog.

Baghaei rejected any allegations suggesting Iran’s involvement in the transfer of arms to Russia.

He also criticized G7’s demand for Tehran’s expanded cooperation with the IAEA terming it “deceitful and interventionist” citing the group’s “deliberate disregard” for US-Israeli military invasion on Iran’s civilian nuclear facilities under UN verification.

Iran said on Wednesday it has filed a complaint at the United Nation against the United States seeking compensation for the 12-day US-Israeli airstrikes last June urging the UN to bring Washington and Tel Aviv to justice.

“The UN Secretary General and the Security Council, in accordance with their responsibility for maintaining international peace and security, should take appropriate measures to ensure that the United States and the Israeli regime and the perpetrators of these crimes are held accountable and brought to justice,” Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi made the demand in a letter to UN Secretary General and Security Council’s President.

The complaint was lodged after US President Donald Trump admitted last Thursday his key role Israel’s war on Iran saying he was “very much in charge of that”.

“The Islamic Republic of Iran reserves its unquestionable and indisputable right to pursue all available legal channels to hold responsible governments and individuals accountable, as well as to receive compensation for the damages caused,” read Iran’s letter.

Araghchi and his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov held a telephone talk on Wednesday discussing the forthcoming Board of Governors session of International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) next week in Vienna, Austria.

Prior to their conversation, news of leaked IAEA confidential reports said the UN watchdog said it lost track of Iran’s enriched uranium in the wake of bombing of its nuclear sites last June.

Tehran retaliated by suspending its cooperation with UN nuclear watchdog including the inspections arguing that the quarterly report by IAEA’s board meeting released days before the attacks justified the US-Israeli invasion.

Iran also strongly criticized IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi for failing to condemn the attacks on its nuclear facilities under safeguards. Grossi, however, rejected Tehran’s criticisms.

Baghaei confirmed on Monday that IAEA monitors inspected some Iranian sites including the Tehran Research Reactor last week after receiving the clearance from the Supreme National Security Council which is required by a legislation passed by Parliament.

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