Tehran warns against anti-Iran resolution at IAEA

By Syed Zafar Mehdi

TEHRAN, Iran (AA) - Tensions between Iran and the US appear to be reaching a fever pitch again, with both sides adopting tough postures after weeks of efforts toward rapprochement.

Foreign Minister Javad Zarif on Monday warned Washington and its European allies against adopting an anti-Iran resolution at the UN nuclear watchdog's quarterly meeting this week.

Speaking on the sidelines of the Iranian parliament's foreign policy and internal security commission meeting, the top diplomat said his country has provided "necessary explanations" about recent measures for the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) governors.

"We hope that reason will prevail, and if that does not happen, we have solutions," Zarif said, without specifying Iran's probable response.
There are reports about the US and the EU mulling over an anti-Iran resolution at the IAEA governor's meeting over recent measures taken by Tehran, including stopping the implementation of the Additional Protocol to Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT).

It comes days after the agency chief Rafael Grossi's visit to Tehran, during which the two sides agreed on a three-month deadline, limiting access of the agency to Iranian nuclear sites for that period.

Earlier on Monday, Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh also accused the US and Europeans of "continuing to violate their commitments" under the 2015 nuclear pact.

"We have said that the path is clear. If the US wants to have a place in JCPOA [Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action], it must abide by its commitments and lift sanctions," he asserted.

On Sunday, he ruled out the possibility of "bilateral talks" between Iran and the US, which Washington termed "disappointing."

Also, on Sunday, Iran's nuclear agency chief Ali Akbar Salehi warned of an "appropriate response" to an "anti-Iran resolution" at the IAEA board of governors meeting.

He urged the nuclear watchdog's 35-nation board of governors not to support a US-led push to indict Tehran for scaling back its cooperation with the UN nuclear watchdog.

It, however, remains to be seen whether the IAEA will adopt a resolution at its quarterly meeting this week, as Washington is strongly pitching for.