A number of hardline Iranian lawmakers have denounced the recent deal reached between the government and the United Nations’ nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), as “illegal” and called for President Hassan Rouhani to be ‘punished’. According to them, the deal violates a law that was passed in December that says that Iran must not implement the Additional Protocol, which gives broad access and power to IAEA authorities.
The chairman of the parliament's national security committee, Mojtaba Zolnour, said, “The government has no right to decide and act arbitrarily,” adding, “This arrangement is an insult to the parliament.” Hence, opposition lawmakers, including Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, who ran against Rouhani in the 2017 election, are now demanding that Rouhani be tried in a court of law for breaking the law.
The government and the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI) have insisted that the Additional Protocol has been scrapped. However, Rouhani's detractors say that even if this is the case, Iranian law has still been violated because IAEA authorities are now allowed to conduct inspections on unregistered facilities on short notice and collect data that was previously unilaterally collected by Iranian authorities.
On Sunday, the IAEA and Iran reached an agreement allowing the nuclear watchdog to conduct “necessary” inspections over the next three months and look into Iran’s nuclear program. The IAEA published a joint statement in collaboration with the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran, wherein both sides “recalled and reaffirmed the spirit of cooperation and enhanced mutual trust”.
Rafael Grossi, the chief of IAEA, celebrated the agreement, saying that it provided a “good, reasonable result” that “salvages the situation for now.” Speaking at a media briefing in Vienna, he said, “We reached a temporary bilateral technical understanding whereby the agency is going to continue its necessary verification and monitoring activities for a period of up to three months.”
However, Iran’s decision to enter into an agreement with the UN watchdog is not without conditions. Primarily, the access into its nuclear facilities will be limited and upon the condition that the IAEA brings an end to “snap inspections.” Iran also refused to provide any footage recorded by cameras at certain facilities.
Iran’s position on the issue also continues to be unclear. A statement released by the Iranian Atomic Energy Organisation last week said that the Additional Protocol and the IAEA’s access to its nuclear facilities will be suspended from Tuesday. Hence, the IAEA will not be granted any access beyond the safeguards of the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT). It added that Iran will continue to record information on its equipment being used for inspection. Moreover, the statement said, “If the sanctions are completely lifted within three months, Iran will give this information to the agency. If not, the information will be deleted forever.”
Moreover, just last month, Iranian authorities announced the country’s decision to increase its uranium enrichment to 20% purity, in what represents the biggest breach yet of the 2015 nuclear deal. This decision came following the Iranian parliament’s approval in December to allow uranium enrichment under the draft law called the “Strategic Action Plan for Lifting the Sanctions and Protecting the Interests of the Iranian Nation”. The text passed by 251 votes in the 290-member parliament. It has also begun developing uranium metal for reactor fuel.
Tehran currently enriches its uranium stockpile up to around 4.5%, which is above the 3.67% cap imposed by the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan Action (JCPOA) nuclear agreement signed by Iran with China, France, Germany, Russia, the United Kingdom (UK), and the United States (US), but far short of the 90% that is considered weapons-grade. However, just this morning, Iranian premier Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said that it could Iran could begin work to enrich uranium up to 60%.
Khamenei said, “Iran's uranium enrichment level will not be limited to 20%. We will increase it to whatever level the country needs … We may increase it to 60%.” He added, “Americans and the European parties to the deal have used unjust language against Iran … Iran will not yield to pressure. Our stance will not change.” In response, US State Department spokesperson Ned Price said that Khamenei’s comments “sound like a threat” but expressed hope that this was merely “posturing”.
Previously, Iran had given the United States (US) time until February 23 to rescind the economic sanctions that had been imposed by Donald Trump during his tenure, and threatened to block IAEA inspections if the US failed to meet this deadline. The standoff between the two sides continues to taint the successful revival of the JCPOA. While American President Joe Biden has reiterated his commitment to rejoin the JCPOA, he also called upon Iran to take the first step and ensure full compliance. However, Iran continues to insist that the US make the first move and rejoin the accord along with withdrawing the economic sanctions. Hence, amidst this ongoing back-and-forth, the recent agreement is likely to allow the two sides more time to reach a mutually beneficial middle ground and bring in a permanent solution to this long-lasting problem.
At the same time, detractors of the IAEA deal from both within and outside Iran show how difficult negotiations will be. Rouhani faces significant opposition from hardline lawmakers. Just last month, the parliament rejected the budget proposal put forth by President Rouhani. This was seen a big victory for the hardliners, who dominate the parliament, and strengthened their bid to win the presidency in the election in June, when Rouhani will not be able to run, given that he has already served two terms. It is unknown how these negotiations will be affected by a change in power.
Likewise, there are critics from outside Iran who say that the new deal gives too much flexibility to Iran by greatly reducing the access that IAEA inspectors require.
Iran’s Deal With UN Nuclear Watchdog IAEA Angers Hardline Lawmakers
Hassan Rouhani’s opponents have been angered by Iran’s deal with the International Atomic Energy Agency which grants them limited access over the next three months to monitor its nuclear programme.
February 23, 2021
The chairman of the Iranian parliament's national security committee, Mojtaba Zolnour SOURCE: RADIO FARDA