Iranian lawmaker warns of nuclear policy shift in response to IAEA resolution

Sunday’s US-Iran talks represent the last opportunity for diplomacy under the shadow of war, the former head of Iran’s parliamentary national security and foreign policy committee said Thursday.

Writing on X, Heshmatollah Falahatpisheh, called the IAEA Board of Governors’ censure of Iran “the result of 20 years of betting on two losing horses,” though he did not clarify what those were.

Europe’s support for the resolution stemmed from anger over Ukraine, he added. “They took revenge,” he wrote, “while Ukraine holds no place in Iran’s national interests.”

The European Union's concerns about Iran extend beyond its nuclear program, said EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas Thursday, citing Tehran’s support for Russia and detention of European citizens.

“Our concerns with Iran are larger than nuclear,” Kallas said after meeting with European foreign ministers in Rome.

“Its support for Russia and the continued detention of EU citizens in Iran are also issues.”

The statement comes amid rising tensions between Iran and Western governments following a resolution by the IAEA Board of Governors declaring Iran in non-compliance with its obligations.

President Masoud Pezeshkian on Thursday rejected the resolution passed by the IAEA Board of Governors against Iran and pledged continued nuclear activity, saying that “we will not retreat from the current path.”

Pezeshkian criticized the three European countries behind the resolution. “Today, the UK, France, and Germany passed a resolution against Iran. I do not understand how one could cooperate with them in a way that stops their mischief and allows our people to stand on their own feet and live independently,” he said.

Iran would pursue uranium enrichment regardless of foreign pressure, the president added.

“We will go our own way, continue enrichment, and will not back down,” he said.

“We will rebuild with our own youth even if they destroy our facilities with bombs. All this capability exists in our minds, and we will build again whatever they destroy.”

"Today, the United Kingdom, France, and Germany passed a resolution against Iran. I truly do not understand how we are supposed to cooperate with a world that keeps provoking us and refuses to let the people of this nation stand on their own and live independently," Pezeshkian said during a meeting with teachers, academics, and cultural figures in the western province of Ilam.

The remarks came a few hours after the International Atomic Energy Agency’s (IAEA) board adopted a non-compliance resolution criticizing Iran for lack of cooperation with inspectors and its ongoing expansion of nuclear activities, which Western powers say could pose proliferation risks.

Reaffirming Tehran’s nuclear posture, Pezeshkian said, “We will continue on our path. We will carry on with enrichment and we will not back down from the current course. This is a national right, and we will not compromise.”

"We will build this country with our youth. Even if they destroy our facilities with bombs, the knowledge and capability remain in our minds, and we will rebuild everything no matter what they do.”

Iran maintains that its nuclear program is solely for peaceful purposes, but its rapid expansion of enrichment activities and restrictions on international oversight have raised alarms in Washington and European capitals.

The resolution by the IAEA’s policy-making 35-nation board declaring Iran in breach of its non-proliferation obligations marked the first in almost 20 years, raising the prospect of reporting it to the UN Security Council.

The decision follows years of escalating tensions between Iran and the Vienna-based agency, particularly after the United States withdrew from the 2015 nuclear deal in 2018 under President Donald Trump, prompting the gradual collapse of the accord.

In response to the censure, an IAEA official said Iran had notified the agency of its intention of countermeasures such as establishing a new uranium enrichment facility.

Following the announcement, Israel’s Foreign Ministry condemned Iran’s move, accusing Tehran of undermining the global Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) and posing a serious threat to regional and international security.

Iran remains a signatory to the NPT, while Israel is not. Israel is widely believed to possess the Middle East’s only nuclear arsenal.

Withdrawal from the NPT is now under consideration at the Iranian parliament, the spokesman for the National Security and Foreign Policy Committee said after the resolution was passed.

Earlier in the day, a senior Israeli told Iran International that Israel is ready to launch a military strike on Iran if the next round of nuclear talks between Tehran and Washington, set for Sunday in Oman, fails to yield results.

France on Thursday expressed alarm at Iran’s announcement to construct a new uranium enrichment facility, following the IAEA Board of Governors’ resolution against Tehran.

“France takes note with concern of Iran’s announcement to build a new enrichment site,” a spokesperson for the French Foreign Ministry said.