New Delhi, 11 June 2022 (TDI): India abstained from voting on a resolution on Iran at the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) joining Libya and Pakistan. According to the resolution, Iran will be slammed for its lack of cooperation with the global nuclear community.
The voting commenced when the Iranian foreign minister visited India. Subsequently, India’s abstaining from voting highlights its differences with the USA on various geopolitical and international agendas.
France, Germany, the USA, and the UK drafted this resolution. Till now, thirty countries have voted against Iran. Meanwhile, China and Russia voted against it.
According to the USA Representative, the Board of governors has joined to express their support in favor of the IAEA’s essential mission of safeguarding nuclear material worldwide to prevent nuclear proliferation.
Moreover, they emphasized that Iran needs to cooperate with the IAEA and provide technically credible information in response to the IAEA’s questions. They have regarded this as the only way to remove these safeguards issues from the Boards agenda.
IAEA’s mandate
As per the USA, the resolution is at the heart of the IAEA’s mandate; therefore, Iran is obliged to follow the protocols under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. According to the administration, this action is unlike the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action of 2015.
On the other hand, Iran threatens nuclear provocation and further reduction of transparency. For this purpose, its initial response prompted an adverse reaction from IAEA Director-General Rafael M. Grossi.
Iran’s Removal of surveillance cameras
Earlier, IAEA expressed concern when Iran removed twenty-seven cameras from its nuclear facilities. The IAEA Chief regarded this gesture as Fata Blow to the negotiations to revive a landmark deal.
Furthermore, the negotiations which started in April 2021 stalled in March 2022. In addition, on Wednesday, most members passed a resolution criticizing Iran over its lack of cooperation with the watchdog organization.
In response, Iran condemned the motion as “unconstructive” and disconnected some IAEA surveillance cameras monitoring its nuclear sites.
The Islamic Republic of Iran deplores the approval of a resolution drafted by the US, #Britain, #France and #Germany at the IAEA Board of Governors as a political, wrong and unconstructive move.
— Iran Foreign Ministry 🇮🇷 (@IRIMFA_EN) June 9, 2022
IAEA urged Iran to engage “immediately” as this activity poses a serious challenge to their ability to continue working there.
 and joins Libya and Pakistan...Read more){kind=link}