Iran's Supreme National Security Council announced on September 20 that Iran will suspend cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) as Britain, France and Germany forcefully push the UN Security Council to restore sanctions on Iraq.

¡°Inappropriate¡± actions by European countries

According to the news agency of the Islamic Republic of Iran, on the evening of the 20th, under the chairmanship of President Peshezian, the Supreme National Security Council of Iran convened a meeting to discuss the regional situation and the recent initiatives of the British and German three countries on the Iranian nuclear issue.

The meeting announced that although the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs is cooperating with the International Atomic Energy Agency and proposing solutions to the Iranian nuclear issue, the "improper actions" of these European countries will lead to the "actual suspension" of Iran's cooperation with the agency.

The meeting also instructed the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs to continue relevant consultations within the decision-making framework of the Supreme National Security Council to safeguard national interests.

Iranian officials have previously warned that if the three European countries and the United States disregard the goodwill of Iran and are determined to resume U.N. sanctions on Iraq, it will not rule out that Iran will stop cooperating with the International Atomic Energy Agency or even withdraw from the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons in response.

'Not good for either side'

In order to put pressure on Iran to resume nuclear negotiations with the United States, Britain, France and Germany informed the UN Security Council on August 28th on the grounds that Iran failed to implement JCPOA (Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action), and launched the "rapid resumption of sanctions" mechanism in accordance with Security Council Resolution 2231. This means that if the Security Council fails to continue to lift the sanctions against Iraq within 30 days and pass a resolution, the relevant sanctions will be restored.

Iran has repeatedly expressed its opposition to the launch of the "rapid resumption of sanctions" mechanism and agreed on September 9 with the International Atomic Energy Agency on a feasible model for the resumption of Iranian verification activities.

On the 19th, the Security Council failed to pass a draft resolution aimed at continuing the lifting of sanctions against Iran due to nine votes in the United States, Britain, France and other countries.

Iran's Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Mr Iranian, condemned the European three countries and the United States on the outcome of the vote, but said the "door of diplomacy" was not closed.

According to Iranian media analysts, withdrawing from the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons would mean Iran¡¯s complete termination of its inspection of Iran by the International Atomic Energy Agency. At that time, the U.S. government would be under pressure, including pressure from its ally Israel, that the U.S. or again join hands with Israel to attack Iran, which would plunge the Middle East into a turmoil, ¡°without benefit to either side.¡±

The international community generally believes that forcing the resumption of sanctions will not help all parties bridge their differences, and political diplomacy is the only correct way to resolve the Iranian nuclear issue. (Reporter: Chen Xiao, Shadati, Wu Baoshu)