In an interview on Wednesday, Araghchi commented on his recent trip to China with President Masoud Pezeshkian.
On the rumors regarding the revocation of Iran’s membership in the SCO following the activation of the snapback mechanism, he said, “No such clause exists, and this issue was not discussed at the recent meeting. In fact, the SCO member countries have expressed their support for the Islamic Republic of Iran in this way.”
Additionally, the top diplomat discussed the developments between Iran and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), stating, “Given these developments, we are currently negotiating how and within what framework our cooperation with the Agency should proceed. In fact, the Agency has acknowledged that new circumstances require a new framework for our cooperation.”
Negotiations are currently ongoing, and no new cooperation will take place until they are concluded, he said, adding, “We are not afraid of negotiations, just as we are not afraid of war.”
Araghchi added that joint initiatives are in progress to address how the country will respond to European states’ attempts to invoke the so-called snapback mechanism of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).
He said, “There are joint initiatives with Russia and China regarding how to deal with the ‘snapback,’ and our diplomats in New York are in contact with their Russian and Chinese counterparts over the matter.”
“We will take every necessary step to make the world understand that this European move is illegal and lacks legitimacy,” Araghchi added.
IAEA agrees a new cooperation framework is needed
“The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has agreed that a new cooperation framework is needed,” according to the Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi.
Speaking on Wednesday night, Araghchi stressed that “No new cooperation will be there until the negotiations are concluded.”
“We will do everything we can to prevent the reimposition of UN sanctions and to demonstrate that the snapback mechanism is illegal,” added the top Iranian diplomat. The three major European powers-the UK, France and Germany have threatened Iran with triggering the snapback mechanism to return the UN sanctions on the country. Tehran insists that the E3 move is illegal.
The comments by the Iranian foreign minister seem to be a reaction to remarks by the IAEA head Rafael Grossi who urged Iran to quickly agree on nuclear inspections.
Grossi also said that the Agency is trying to have another meeting with the country within the next few days.
Tehran has now passed a law suspending cooperation with the IAEA and stipulating any future inspections will need a green light from Iran’s Supreme National Security Council. Tehran and the IAEA are now in talks on how inspections can go ahead.
Meanwhile, Associated press reported earlier on Wednesday that Iran and the IAEA have not reached an agreement on the inspections to nuclear sites.
