Iran warns European powers IAEA censure will ‘complicate’ nuclear talks

Tehran has reportedly offered to halt expanding its stockpile of high-enriched uranium during a sojourn by the UN atomic watchdog chief.

Tehran, Iran – Iran has warned 3 European nations against pursuing a caller censure solution against it astatine the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) soon aft the caput of the watchdog visited Tehran.

Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi condemned efforts by France, Germany and the United Kingdom to walk their fourth solution since 2020 astatine the United Nations atomic watchdog’s committee gathering connected Wednesday.

“This determination by the E3 is successful wide confrontation with the affirmative ambiance created successful engagements betwixt Iran and the IAEA, and volition lone marque the contented much complicated,” Araghchi told his French counterpart Jean-Noel Barrot successful a telephone conversation, according to Iran’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The latest confidential reports by the IAEA to subordinate states connected Tuesday indicated that Iran has offered to not further grow its stockpile of 60 percent enriched uranium, respective media outlets, including the Reuters quality bureau and CNN reported.

Iran has already “begun implementation of preparatory measures” to headdress the banal of the high-enriched uranium – which is adjacent to the 90 percent weapons-grade enrichment needed for a weaponry – astatine astir 185kg (407 pounds), the planetary watchdog said, according to the leaked reports.

The connection by Tehran was reportedly made during a sojourn to Iran by IAEA main Rafael Grossi past week.

Grossi met Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, who told him Iran wants to “resolve doubts” astir its atomic programme, and was permitted tours of delicate Iranian atomic sites.

Pezeshkian, right, meets Grossi successful Tehran, Iran, connected November 14, 2024 [Handout/Iran’s Presidency/WANA via Reuters]

Tehran has been gradually ramping up its level of enrichment and expanding its stockpiles of fissile worldly successful the aftermath of the 2018 unilateral withdrawal of the United States from Iran’s 2015 atomic woody with satellite powers.

Washington embarked connected its “maximum pressure” run of pugnacious sanctions and subject confrontations with Iran based connected the statement that the woody – besides signed by the E3, China and Russia – that took years to negociate was weak. It did not connection a replacement.

China and Russia person voted against each different erstwhile censure measures against Iran astatine the IAEA, including successful 2020, 2022 and June 2024.

Iran present has capable fissile worldly for aggregate bombs but has not made the dash for a atomic weapon, according to the IAEA and Western intelligence.

Tehran maintains that it does not question a limb of wide destruction. But governmental and subject officials person progressively warned that the argumentation could perchance beryllium reversed if threats from Israel and others turn excessively large.

The European determination to censure Iran astatine the IAEA gathering comes amid escalating tensions amid the wars successful Gaza and Ukraine.

In his telephone with the French overseas minister, Iran’s Araghchi again condemned new European sanctions connected Iran’s nationalist airlines and shipping companies based connected claims that Tehran has sent ballistic missiles to Russia for usage against Ukraine, and said Western parties carnivore work for backing the “genocide” successful Gaza.