Kharazi Announces Tehran's Readiness to Consider Russia-China Mediation on Reviving Iran-IAEA Relations
Tehran - BORNA - Kamal Kharazi, Head of the Strategic Council on Foreign Relations, stated in an interview that Iran has expressed its readiness to consider mediation by Russia and China to revive Iran's cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency.
The RIA Novosti news agency reported that Kharazi, in an exclusive interview with the media outlet, responded to a question about whether Iran sees Russia and China as potential mediators for reaching a new form of cooperation between Tehran and the Agency, stating: "Yes. If such a plan is proposed, we will consider it."
Previously, Mikhail Ulyanov, Russia's Representative in Vienna, had mentioned that Russia, China, and Iran held trilateral discussions on the Iranian nuclear program on November 5. Following this, Seyyed Abbas Araghchi, Iran's Foreign Minister, held two phone calls with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov to discuss Tehran's interaction with the IAEA and Iran's nuclear program.
Background on Suspension of Cooperation
Iran suspended cooperation with the Agency, following a resolution by the Islamic Consultative Assembly, after the aggressive attacks by the US and the Israeli regime on its atomic facilities in Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan, which were covered by Iran’s Comprehensive Safeguards Agreement with the Agency. Iran declared that IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi failed to fulfill his legal duties to protect these facilities, and his biased report facilitated the aggressive attacks in June.
Tehran then reached an agreement with the Agency in Cairo on new methods of cooperation, which included providing Agency access to certain Iranian atomic facilities, excluding the bombed sites, for monitoring activities.
Araghchi stated on October 11 that Iran had suspended the implementation of the Cairo agreement with the Agency. This action followed the re-imposition of international sanctions against Iran after the activation of the "snapback mechanism" by the European Troika (Germany, France, and the UK).
However, Tehran emphasized at the time its readiness to consider proposals for a new agreement with the Agency, although the decision regarding the form of engagement with the IAEA rests with Iran's Supreme National Security Council.
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