Nuclear Talks Continue: Iran Rejects Yielding to Threats
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaii stated on Monday that Tehran will continue its talks with the United Nations’ International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), noting that a new round of negotiations between the two parties may take place in the coming days.
During his weekly press conference, Baghaii explained that the visit of the IAEA Deputy Director General to Tehran was aimed at discussing the mechanism for cooperation between Iran and the IAEA, following the military attacks launched by Israel and the United States on Iranian nuclear facilities last June.
Baghaii said, “An attack on a state’s nuclear facilities followed by inspections by the International Atomic Energy Agency has never occurred before, which raises questions related to security and safety.” He added, “The visit aimed to establish a specific protocol for handling such circumstances.”
Direct Communications Between Tehran and the IAEA
The Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson confirmed that communications between Iran and the IAEA remain ongoing and direct despite rising tensions. He said, “The Deputy Director General of the Agency conducted talks in Tehran last week, during which a new cooperation mechanism was discussed following the recent escalation, while our permanent mission in Vienna maintains continuous contact with the Agency.”
European Troika Threatens to Activate ‘Trigger Mechanism’ and Reinstate Sanctions
Meanwhile, European pressure on Iran is increasing, as the Troika—comprising Germany, France, and the United Kingdom—threatened to activate the ‘trigger mechanism,’ which could lead to the reinstatement of international sanctions that were suspended under the 2015 nuclear deal.
European countries accuse Iran of non-cooperation with the IAEA, particularly following Tehran’s refusal to allow international inspectors access to its nuclear facilities.
Iran’s Diplomatic Coordination with Russia and China
Iran has affirmed that it is working with China and Russia to prevent the activation of the trigger mechanism and to avoid the reinstatement of international sanctions that were lifted as part of the nuclear deal in exchange for limitations on Iran’s nuclear activities.
Iran had suspended cooperation with the IAEA after a joint military strike by Israel and the United States in June targeted three major Iranian nuclear sites in an effort to dismantle Iran’s nuclear capabilities, according to international reports.
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