TEHRAN, 26 September 2005 — Iran yesterday rejected a UN nuclear watchdog agency resolution that put it just one step away from Security Council referral, calling the action “political, illegal and illogical” and orchestrated by the United States.
Some 180 lawmakers also denounced the resolution and called on the Iranian government to scale back cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency.
Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki said the resolution, approved by a vote and not the usual consensus, proved that Britain, France and Germany, the key three European countries negotiating with Iran, have violated previous agreements. “The three European countries implemented a planned scenario, already determined by the United States,” he said on state-run television.
The watchdog agency’s 35-nation board on Saturday approved the resolution, which could lead to Iran’s referral to the UN Security Council for violating the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty, unless Tehran eases suspicions about its nuclear activities.
Diplomats from countries backing the resolution said it set Iran up for possible Security Council referral as early as November, when the board next meets in regular session.
To avoid the referral, diplomats said, Iran is being told to suspend all uranium enrichment activities including uranium conversion, to give up construction of a heavy water nuclear reactor and to give agency experts access to certain research and development locations and documentation.
The resolution also demands that Iran immediately ratify an additional protocol to the NPT that allows more-intrusive inspections of Iran’s nuclear facilities by IAEA.
Mottaki said Iran may take some measures “in the next few days” in response to the resolution but did not elaborate.
Tehran had already warned that, if the resolution was approved, it could respond by starting uranium enrichment — a possible path to nuclear arms — and by reducing IAEA powers to inspect its activities under the additional agreement, which it has signed but not yet ratified.
“We don’t believe in and don’t accept extra-legal powers. We are not committed to the additional protocol but are committed to continuing cooperation within the NPT and safeguard regulations,” Mottaki said.
In remarks suggesting increasing tension in Tehran-London relations, Mottaki said the rotating presidency of the European Union “is unable to manage the situation” and made decisions under US pressure. Britain holds the current EU presidency.
“The EU3 (three European countries), through rendering this politically motivated, illegal and illogical resolution, removed any final doubts that they are not committed to their obligations under agreements reached with Iran in the past 20 months,” Mottaki said. Mottaki also said Iran is considering taking punitive measures against the European troika. “The Foreign Ministry will define and implement an appropriate response... Their motion has paved the way for creation of a new situation that will create obstacles for cooperation,” he said.
Parliamentary Speaker Gholam Ali Haddad Adel said Parliament would not ratify the additional NPT protocol because it is “against the definite rights of the Iranian nation.”
