Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has cautioned that reimposing United Nations(UN) sanctions on the country “would signify the end of Europe’s role in the Iranian nuclear dossier“.
This warning comes amid a clause in the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) between Iran and world powers, which allows for UN sanctions to be reimposed if Tehran breaches the deal. The JCPOA was torpedoed by United States President Donald Trump in 2018 during his first term.
Araghchi emphasized that any potential talks with major powers would solely focus on Iran’s nuclear activities, excluding its military capabilities. “If negotiations are held … the subject of the negotiations will be only nuclear and creating confidence in Iran’s nuclear programme in return for the lifting of sanctions,” he stated. “No other issues will be subject to negotiation.”
The Iranian Foreign Minister also revealed that Tehran is reviewing the details of a possible resumption of nuclear talks with the US. “We are examining its timing, its location, its form, its ingredients, the assurances it requires” from Iran for possible negotiations.
This development comes after a recent conflict between Iran and Israel, which resulted in significant damage and loss of life. Israel claimed its assault was undertaken to “roll back the Iranian threat to Israel’s very survival”, according to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. However, Iran views the war as an unprovoked aggression in violation of the UN Charter.
Following the conflict, Iran announced it was suspending cooperation with the UN nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), due to deep distrust for the organization. Araghchi clarified that cooperation with the nuclear agency “will take on a new form” after President Masoud Pezeshkian signed a law suspending Iran’s collaboration with the IAEA. The new law requires any future inspection of Iran’s nuclear sites by the IAEA to be approved by the Supreme National Council.
Pezeshkian warned that the IAEA must drop its “double standards” if it wants to restore cooperation with Tehran. The president also stated that “any repeated aggression against Iran will be met with a more decisive and regrettable response”. This stance underscores Iran’s commitment to defending its sovereignty and nuclear program.