Iran’s Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian has criticized the United States and its three European allies, the UK, France, and Germany for submitting an anti-Iranian resolution during the recent meeting of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)’s Board of Governors.
Amir-Abdollahian made the remarks in a Saturday night phone call with Secretary General of the United Nations Antonio Guterres, during which the two sides discussed the negotiations in the Austrian capital on the revival of the 2015 Iran deal, officially known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).
Criticizing the United States and its European allies for the submission of an anti-Iranian resolution during the IAEA’s Board of Governors meeting, Iran’s top diplomat said the move was “hasty and politically motivated.”
Guterres, for his part, said the contents of the IAEA’s resolution were nothing more than recommendations, stressing the need for the continuation of the Vienna talks on the removal of sanctions imposed on Iran.
Adopted on Wednesday, the IAEA resolution was passed with 30 votes in favor, two against and three abstentions.
Following the IAEA’s move, Iran’s top nuclear official said the country has begun injecting uranium gas into advanced centrifuges and disconnected some UN nuclear agency’s cameras monitoring its sites outside the Safeguards Agreement.
“We have terminated the operations of a number of the agency’s cameras functioning outside the Safeguards [Agreement], and tomorrow we will terminate the operations of the rest, which are 17 to 18 in total,” Mohammad Eslami told the national broadcaster on Thursday night.
Iran’s President Ebrahim Raisi also reacted to the resolution, saying that the Islamic Republic will not back down an iota from its positions.
Raisi made the remarks on Thursday, adding, “How many times do you want to test the Iranian nation and not listen to the words of the country’s officials? Do you think that we will retreat as a result of [your] issuing of resolutions?”
“Iran will not take a step back from its positions,” Iran’s president said, adding, “We will not stop and we will not tie the development of the country’s industry, agriculture and tourism to the frown and smile of the enemy.”
Source: Agencies (editted by Al-Manar English Website)
