The head of the United Nations’ nuclear watchdog, Rafael Grossi, expressed that diplomatic efforts to resolve the ongoing dispute regarding Iran’s nuclear program are currently at a challenging crossroads. Despite these difficulties, he reaffirmed that dialogue among the involved parties will persist.
This development follows a recent vote by the UN Security Council, which reimposed sanctions that had previously been suspended. The decision was influenced by three European nations—Britain, France, and Germany—who activated the “snapback” mechanism established in a decade-old nuclear agreement, citing Iran’s failure to comply with its terms.
Grossi characterized the situation as a “very difficult” moment, noting that it is crucial for communication to remain open. He mentioned planned discussions among relevant parties in New York, aiming for a productive exchange to navigate the current challenges.
The reimplementation of these sanctions means they will come back into effect on September 28 unless Iran is able to persuade the Security Council to reverse its decision within the upcoming week.
In response to the European powers’ actions, Tehran criticized the move as detrimental to months of collaborative efforts with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), which initially aimed to resume monitoring and ensure adherence to international nuclear regulations.
Just earlier this month, Iran and the IAEA reached an agreement in Cairo, which was supposed to facilitate the resumption of inspections at Iranian nuclear sites. This agreement had been jeopardized after a series of Israeli and US strikes on Iranian facilities back in June.
Additionally, Western nations have consistently expressed concerns over Iran’s potential ambitions to develop nuclear weapons capabilities, a claim that Tehran has vigorously denied. Authorities in Tehran have also taken issue with the IAEA’s perceived inaction regarding the military strikes conducted by Israel and the United States on its nuclear infrastructure.
