Desk Report,
Iran warns that Europe’s role in nuclear issue will end if sanctions are imposed again
Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi warned that the reimposition of UN sanctions on the country would mean the end of Europe’s role in Tehran’s nuclear issue.
Iran warns that Europe’s role in nuclear issue will end if sanctions are imposed again
The Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) was signed in 2015 by France, Germany, the United Kingdom, the United States, China, Russia and the European Union over Iran’s nuclear program.
Under the deal, Iran could enrich uranium, but it had to limit it to the level needed to generate electricity to 3.7 percent. In exchange, international sanctions on the country would be lifted in stages.
At Israel’s request, Trump withdrew the United States from the deal in 2018, and Iran also withdrew from the deal the following year. It had been in effect until then.
According to a clause in the JCPOA, UN sanctions on the country would be reimposed if Iran violated the deal.
On Saturday, Araghchi said that Tehran was reviewing the details of resuming talks with the United States on a possible nuclear program. “We are looking into the time, place, structure, content and all the guarantees that Iran needs for possible talks,” he said.
Araghchi also said that the only topic of discussion with the world’s major powers would be Iran’s nuclear program, not its military capabilities.
Addressing diplomats in Tehran, Araghchi said that the possible topic of discussion would be only the nuclear program and building trust in exchange for the lifting of sanctions. No other issues would be included in the discussion.
Last June, Israel carried out a massive attack on Tehran’s nuclear facilities, military leaders, nuclear scientists and various residential areas. Hundreds of people were killed in the attack.
According to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, the attack on June 13 was carried out to protect Israel’s existence from Iranian threats. However, Iran said that the attack was carried out without provocation, in violation of the UN Charter.
Iran also retaliated after the Israeli attack. At one point, the United States entered the conflict on Israel’s side. It attacked Iran’s nuclear facilities at Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan with bunker-busting bombs. In response, Iran attacked the largest U.S. base in the Middle East in Qatar. After 12 days of fighting, U.S. President Donald Trump declared a ceasefire.
After the conflict, Iran announced it would suspend cooperation with the United Nations nuclear watchdog, the IAEA. This was due to its deep distrust of the organization.
