Iran Urges Europe to Respond Positively to New IAEA Cooperation Deal

TDT | Tehran

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Iran on Wednesday called on European powers to take a constructive stance following its decision to sign a new cooperation agreement with the UN’s nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

The appeal came as Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi prepared for phone discussions with his counterparts from Britain, France, and Germany.

“We have demonstrated that we are not averse to diplomacy and take every opportunity to safeguard the interests and benefits of the Iranian nation,” said foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei during his weekly press briefing. “It is natural to expect that Iran’s positive approach and good-faith efforts will be met with similar and reciprocal action from the European parties.”

The new framework with the IAEA was finalized last week, just months after Iran suspended cooperation with the agency following Israeli and US strikes on its nuclear facilities in June.

The move came against the backdrop of renewed tensions, as the three European powers recently triggered the “snapback” mechanism under the 2015 nuclear agreement. The mechanism seeks to reinstate long-suspended UN sanctions, citing what they described as Iran’s “significant” non-compliance.

Unless Iran fully restores its cooperation with the IAEA and resumes nuclear negotiations with Washington—halted since June—the sanctions are set to re-enter into force next month.

The 2015 nuclear deal, formally known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), had initially offered Tehran relief from crippling sanctions in exchange for restrictions on its nuclear program. However, the accord has been in crisis since 2018, when then-US President Donald Trump withdrew Washington from the deal and reinstated sweeping sanctions on Iran.