EU Statement Backs Nuclear Resolution Critical Of Iran

The European Union has issued a statement to be delivered at the board meeting in Vienna of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

The statement, released by the press office of the EU delegation to United Nations bodies in Vienna Wednesday afternoon, expressed support for a resolution critical of Iran to be moved by France, Germany, the United Kingdom and the United States.

The EU called for Iran to “co-operate immediately and in full with the IAEA in order for the Agency to be in a position to provide the required assurances that Iran’s nuclear programme [sic] is exclusively peaceful” and praised the “tireless efforts” of IAEA director general Rafael Mariano Grossi to “pursue constructive engagement.”

The resolution is set to criticize Iran over what Grossi has said is its failure to adequately explain uranium traces found at three sites in Iran. To pass it needs a simple majority of the 35 states on the IAEA governing board.But China and Russia have both opposed the move on grounds it could undermine negotiations between Iran and six world powers to revive the 2015 Iran nuclear deal, the JCPOA (Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action).

Neither it is clear what practical effect the resolution passing might have. Iran Wednesday announced it was turning off two IAEA camera systems at unspecified nuclear sites but stressed it would continue to fulfil obligations under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation treaty (NPT).