World
This handout satellite image released by Maxar Technologies on June 19, 2025 and taken on June 18, 2025, shows a view of the Iranian nuclear facility at Arak in central Iran. Photo: Maxar Technologies/AFP
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - A European diplomatic source has accused Iran of persistently “violating its international obligations” on its nuclear program, saying Tehran continues to bar inspectors from the UN’s nuclear watchdog from accessing key sites.
“Iran continues to violate its international obligations,” the source told Rudaw on Monday, noting that International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) inspectors “have yet to return to Iran’s sensitive nuclear sites and verify the stockpile of 60% high-enriched uranium located in the country.”
The source added that the IAEA is “no longer able to provide assurances to the international community regarding the nature of Iran’s nuclear programme.”
UN sanctions were reimposed on Iran in late September - a decade after they were lifted under the 2015 nuclear deal - after France, Germany, and the United Kingdom triggered the agreement’s snapback mechanism. The three European states accused Tehran of escalating its nuclear activities and refusing to cooperate with inspectors after Iran suspended access to its facilities in retaliation for joint US-Israeli strikes on military and nuclear sites in mid-June.
Despite those strikes, the IAEA estimates that about 400 kilograms of highly enriched uranium - enough for several nuclear weapons if further processed - remains unaccounted for.
The snapback mechanism, part of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), allows for the automatic reimposition of UN sanctions if Iran is deemed to have breached its nuclear commitments.
Tehran has repeatedly rejected renewed negotiations since sanctions were reinstated. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has characterized the renewed measures as “unfair, unjust, and illegal.”
The European diplomatic source stressed that dialogue is the only credible path forward.
“We remain fully committed to negotiations to ensure that Iran never obtains a nuclear weapon,” the source said. “Only a diplomatic solution can resolve Iran’s proliferation crisis. We call on Iran to return to the negotiating table to conclude a robust and lasting agreement. If Iran chooses escalation, we are ready to adopt new sanctions.”
Iran maintains that its nuclear program is solely for peaceful purposes and denies pursuing weapons capabilities.
But the European source warned that Iran’s activities pose a broader security risk.
“Iran’s nuclear programme is a global threat that undermines the integrity of the international nonproliferation architecture,” the source said, adding that Tehran’s ballistic missile program includes missiles capable of reaching Europe. “Iran has already transferred hundreds of ballistic missiles to Russia in direct support of its war of aggression against Ukraine.”
Niyaz Mustafa contributed to this article.
Comments
Rudaw moderates all comments submitted on our website. We welcome comments which are relevant to the article and encourage further discussion about the issues that matter to you. We also welcome constructive criticism about Rudaw.
To be approved for publication, however, your comments must meet our community guidelines.
We will not tolerate the following: profanity, threats, personal attacks, vulgarity, abuse (such as sexism, racism, homophobia or xenophobia), or commercial or personal promotion.
Comments that do not meet our guidelines will be rejected. Comments are not edited – they are either approved or rejected.
Post a comment