New agreement with IAEA will be canceled if ‘snapback’ triggered: Araghchi

Iran and the UN nuclear watchdog signed an agreement Tuesday in Cairo to pave the way for resuming cooperation, which has been suspended following Israeli and US aggression against Iran in June, including attacks on its nuclear facilities.

The agreement was signed between Araghchi and IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi in Cairo on Tuesday. 

Araghchi told reporters on Wednesday that the most important aspect of the new agreement is that it acknowledges the “new conditions” following the 12-war and subsequent measures taken by the Iranian Parliament and the Supreme National Security Council (SNSC).

It also concedes that Iran has legitimate security concerns following the Israeli-US aggression, he added.

“After the attack, the situation changed, and in our discussions with the agency, we emphasized that cooperation could no longer continue as before and that a new framework must be defined for it,” Araghchi said.

The top diplomat emphasized that the new agreement does not give any access to IAEA inspectors, except to oversee the fuel replacement process at the Bushehr nuclear plant.

The new document will remain valid as long as no hostile action is taken against Iran, he asserted.

“For instance, if what is known as the ‘snapback mechanism’ is activated, the implementation of this document will certainly be halted. As for how Iran will respond and behave afterward, decisions will be made in due course,” he said.