Iran has rebuked the European Union’s top diplomat over her call for the end of Tehran’s nuclear program, warning that European countries and the UK could be excluded from any future negotiations if they insist on such positions.
If the European Union believes Tehran's nuclear program must be ended, then "the participation and role of the European Union and its member states, plus the UK, in any future negotiation would be irrelevant and therefore meaningless,” Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi wrote on X.
His statement came in response to a post by EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas, who urged Iran to resume talks aimed at ending its nuclear program.
“Negotiations on ending Iran's nuclear program should restart as soon as possible. Cooperation with the IAEA must resume. The EU is ready to facilitate this,” Kallas wrote.
She added that she had discussed the matter with Araghchi in a phone call on Tuesday. “Any threats to pull out of the Non-Proliferation Treaty don’t help to lower tensions,” she said.
Araghchi also accused Kallas of disregarding the provisions of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) "which explicitly affirm the right of all signatories to develop, research, and use nuclear technology for peaceful purposes."
On Wednesday, Iranian state media announced that President Masoud Pezeshkian had enacted a law suspending cooperation with the UN nuclear watchdog, following its approval by parliament and the Guardian Council.
The law mandates a halt to cooperation under the Safeguards Agreement tied to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, unless Iran’s demands—such as security assurances for its nuclear sites and scientists—are met.
Despite the suspension of cooperation with the UN’s nuclear watchdog, IAEA inspectors remained on the ground in Iran as of Wednesday, according to a diplomat familiar with the agency’s operations who spoke to the Associated Press.
The IAEA said it is awaiting clarification from Iranian authorities. “We are aware of these reports. The IAEA is awaiting further official information from Iran,” the agency said in a statement.
The US State Department said on Wednesday "it is unacceptable that Iran chose to suspend cooperation with IAEA at a time when it has a window of opportunity to reverse course and choose a path of peace and prosperity."
"Iran must cooperate fully without further delay," State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce told reporters.
"Iran must fully comply with its safeguard agreements required under the NPT including by providing IAEA with information required to clarify and resolve long standing questions regarding undeclared nuclear material in Iran, as well as provide unrestricted access to its newly announced enrichment facility," Bruce added.
