Tehran fires back at IAEA with new centrifuge launch after criticized UN resolution

Iran has announced the launch of new advanced centrifuges in response to the passing of a resolution drafted by the E3 countries (Britain, France, and Germany) and the United States at the International Atomic Energy Agency's (IAEA) Board of Governors (BoG) meeting on November 21.

In a joint statement, the Iranian Atomic Energy Organization (AEOI) and the Iranian Foreign Ministry criticized the resolution as politically motivated, unrealistic, and counterproductive, Caliber.Az reports.

They emphasized that the resolution undermined efforts for peaceful nuclear cooperation and was a move against Iran's interests.

The statement further revealed that the head of AEOI had ordered the launch of a significant number of new advanced centrifuges of various types. "The measures taken are in line with protecting the country’s interests and further developing its peaceful nuclear industry, in accordance with national needs and Iran’s rights under the Comprehensive Safeguards Agreement," the statement said.

The statement also reaffirmed that Iran would continue its technical and safeguards cooperation with the IAEA under the framework of the Safeguards Agreement. “The Islamic Republic of Iran remains ready for constructive engagement with relevant parties based on international legal principles and standards,” it stated, concluding that Iran's commitment to defending its rights and developing its peaceful nuclear program would continue with resolve.

The UN atomic watchdog’s 35-nation Board of Governors passed a resolution on November 21, calling for Iran to urgently improve its cooperation with the agency and provide a "comprehensive" report. This was part of an effort to pressure Iran into renewed nuclear talks. The resolution came after the E3-US coalition criticized a last-minute Iranian move to limit its stock of uranium, which was approaching weapons-grade levels, dismissing it as insufficient and conditional on the scrapping of the resolution.

Iran has previously reacted strongly to such resolutions, increasing its nuclear activities and reducing IAEA oversight. In the latest vote, China, Russia, and Burkina Faso voted against the resolution, while 19 countries voted in favour and 12 abstained.

The IAEA and Iran have long been at odds over several issues, including Iran's failure to explain traces of uranium found at undeclared sites and its refusal to expand IAEA monitoring. The resolution reiterated the need for Iran to address these issues, particularly regarding uranium traces and to allow the IAEA to take necessary samples.

The resolution also requested the IAEA to issue a comprehensive assessment by spring 2025 on any undeclared nuclear material related to Iran’s past and present nuclear activities. Western powers hope this report will pressure Iran into negotiations over new restrictions on its nuclear activities, though these are expected to be less stringent than the terms of the 2015 nuclear deal, which unravelled after the United States withdrew under President Donald Trump.

As Trump is expected to return to office in January, and with Iran's uranium enrichment far exceeding the 2015 deal's limits, it is uncertain whether he would support negotiations to set new limits before the existing deal’s terms expire in October of the following year. If no new limits are established before then, the report could provide a basis for triggering "snapback" measures, under which the UN Security Council could reinstate sanctions lifted under the 2015 deal.

Last week, IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi visited Tehran in an attempt to convince the newly elected Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, who is seen as relatively moderate, to improve cooperation with the IAEA.

By Tamilla Hasanova