(Vienna) Faced with the rise of Iran’s nuclear program, the Board of Governors of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) adopted a resolution on Wednesday in Vienna formally calling Tehran to order, which has promised to retaliate .
The text, tabled by London, Paris and Berlin (E3), was approved by 20 out of 35 countries, according to three diplomats interviewed by AFP, with the voice of the United States, initially reluctant for fear of inflaming tensions in the Middle East.
Russia and China voted against, while 12 countries abstained. One member country did not participate.
This resolution, the first since November 2022, broadens the grievances accused of Iran.
She once again deplores the absence of “credible technical answers” concerning the presence of unexplained traces of uranium on two undeclared sites.
“It is essential and urgent” that Tehran clarifies the situation and provides access to the places in question, insists the confidential text obtained by AFP. On this subject, “a full report” could be requested from the Director General of the IAEA, Rafael Grossi.
PHOTO LEONHARD FOEGER, REUTERS ARCHIVES
Rafael Grossi
“Counterproductive” action
In addition to this file which has dragged on for years, two new points of contention have emerged.
Iran must “reverse the withdrawal of accreditation” of some of its most experienced inspectors, and reconnect surveillance cameras “without delay”, insists the resolution.
Of symbolic significance at this stage, it aims to increase pressure on Iran, which has severely restricted its cooperation with the UN body.
It can be the prelude to transmitting the dispute to the UN Security Council empowered to take sanctions. Only in theory, because two of its members, Moscow and Beijing, have moved significantly closer to Tehran over the last two years.
The text was modified after intense negotiations with the Americans, who had opposed a similar initiative at E3 in March and were not in favor of this new resolution before joining it.
Tehran, which castigated before the Council a “counterproductive” action […] devoid of any basis”, has already threatened a response, without saying more at this stage.
If the Islamic Republic denies wanting to acquire the bomb, its program continues to grow in strength.
” Unprecedented ”
During the debates which opened on Monday in the Austrian capital, Europeans denounced nuclear advances “unprecedented for a State not equipped with atomic weapons”, describing an “alarming” situation.
According to the IAEA, Iran is the only country without atomic weapons to enrich uranium to the level of 60%, close to the 90% necessary to develop a bomb, and to accumulate ever-increasing stocks.
“This escalation significantly harms international security and undermines the global non-proliferation architecture,” the E3 noted in a statement.
Especially since “confidence has been further eroded” by recent public declarations by officials in Iran on a possible evolution of the nuclear doctrine towards an assumed military vocation.
The Islamic Republic has gradually freed itself from the commitments made under the 2015 international agreement concluded with the United States, China, Russia, France, Germany and the United Kingdom.
This pact known by the acronym JCPOA was supposed to regulate its atomic activities in exchange for a lifting of international sanctions.
But it was shattered after the American withdrawal decided in 2018 by then-president Donald Trump. Discussions in Vienna to revive it failed in the summer of 2022.
In a joint statement cited Wednesday by the Iranian agency Irna, Tehran, Moscow and Beijing called on “Western countries to demonstrate political will and take measures” to allow a return to the JCPOA.