Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi has emphasized that the recently reached agreement to resume cooperation with the United Nations (UN) nuclear watchdog can no longer be considered a valid basis for bilateral engagement, Reuters reports.
Speaking at a press conference on Sunday, Araghchi noted that the enforcement of the snapback mechanism had "changed the circumstances," adding that they are facing a new situation.
In September, Iran and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) reached an agreement in Cairo on a new framework of cooperation to address Iran's security and safety concerns. The deal came after Tehran suspended its cooperation with the IAEA in late June following Israeli-U.S. strikes on its nuclear facilities and the assassinations of Iranian nuclear scientists. Under the arrangement, any IAEA inspections would require approval from Iran's Supreme National Security Council.
Araghchi stressed that "the Cairo agreement can no longer serve as the basis for our cooperation with the agency."
He said there was no "justified" reason for invoking the snapback mechanism, warning that it would only further complicate negotiations and hinder diplomatic efforts.
Araghchi stressed that Iran had demonstrated in practice that it neither sought to develop nuclear weapons nor to create conflict or escalate tensions, reiterating that diplomacy remained the only viable path to resolving the nuclear issue.
"They have now resorted to the snapback mechanism and have seen the outcomes: nothing has changed, and the issues remain unresolved. In fact, it has made diplomacy even more challenging and complicated. Experience has shown that there is no solution to the Iranian nuclear issue other than through diplomatic negotiations," said Araghchi.
The E3 -- Britain, France, and Germany -- triggered the snapback mechanism in August, leading to the UN's reimposition of sanctions after the Security Council failed to extend sanctions relief in September.
