U.S.-Europeans submit draft resolution criticising Iran to IAEA Board

VIENNA, June 7 (Reuters) – The United States, Britain, Germany and France have submitted to the U.N. nuclear watchdog’s board a draft resolution criticising Iran for not fully answering the watchdog’s questions on uranium traces at undeclared sites, a move that is likely to anger Iran.

Submitting the text, seen by Reuters and little changed from a draft circulated last week, means it will be debated and voted on at this week’s quarterly meeting of the International Atomic Energy Agency’s 35-nation Board of Governors.

Several diplomats said the resolution was likely to pass easily despite warnings by Iran of retaliation and consequences that could further undermine already stalled talks on rescuing the 2015 Iran nuclear deal. Iran’s ally Russia opposes such a resolution. read more

The draft resolution text that was submitted said the board “expresses profound concern that the safeguards issues related to these three undeclared locations remain outstanding due to insufficient substantive cooperation by Iran, despite numerous interactions with the agency.”

The text, seen by Reuters, also said the board “calls upon Iran to act on an urgent basis to fulfil its legal obligations and, without delay, take up the (IAEA) director general’s offer of further engagement to clarify and resolve all outstanding safeguards issues.”

Indirect talks between Iran and the United States on reviving the 2015 deal have not been held since March.

Their aim is to bring both countries back into full compliance with the deal after a U.S. withdrawal and re-imposition of sanctions in 2018 prompted Iran to breach many of the deal’s limits on its nuclear activities.

“Those who push for anti-Iran resolution at IAEA will be responsible for all the consequences,” Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian said on Twitter on Sunday in a message about the talks.

Last week, Amirabdollahian said any political action by the United States and its three European allies at the IAEA “will undoubtedly be met with a proportionate, effective and immediate response from Iran”. read more

Reporting by Francois Murphy; Editing by Catherine Evans and Edmund Blair

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