Iran says nuclear cooperation with IAEA no longer relevant'

"The Cairo agreement is no longer relevant for our cooperation with the IAEA, Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said on Sunday, referring to a deal signed last month with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). list of 3 itemsend of list That agreement had laid out a framework for renewed inspections and monitoring after Tehran suspended cooperation following Israeli and United States attacks on its nuclear facilities in June. However, the deal lost significance after Britain, France and Germany all signatories to the 2015 nuclear accord triggered the return of UN sanctions, accusing Iran of breaching its commitments, claims which Tehran has rejected."

"The three European countries thought they had leverage in their hands, threatening to implement a snapback, Araghchi told foreign diplomats in Tehran. Now they have used this lever and seen the results. The three European countries have definitely diminished their role and almost eliminated the justification for negotiations with them. He added that the European trio will have a much smaller role than in the past in any future talks over Iran's nuclear programme."

"Tehran has accused the IAEA of double standards, saying the agency failed to condemn Israeli strikes on Iranian nuclear sites despite its obligations under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT). Western states, led by the US and supported by Israel, have long accused Iran of seeking nuclear weapons allegations Tehran strongly denies. Iran insists its programme is purely civilian and that it retains the right to enrich uranium under the NPT."

Iran declared cooperation with the IAEA irrelevant after Britain, France and Germany triggered the return of UN snapback sanctions. The Cairo agreement that had established a framework for renewed inspections and monitoring lost significance after those European states accused Iran of breaching its commitments, allegations Tehran rejects. Iran had suspended cooperation following Israeli and United States attacks on its nuclear facilities in June. Tehran accused the IAEA of double standards for failing to condemn Israeli strikes. Iran maintains its nuclear programme is purely civilian and retains the right to enrich uranium under the NPT, while some lawmakers suggested withdrawing from the treaty.

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