Iran has urged the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) chief to denounce US and Israeli attacks on its nuclear facilities, ahead of a planned meeting between Rafael Grossi and Iran's foreign minister in Cairo.
In a speech to the IAEA on Monday, Iran’s ambassador to the United Nations and other international organizations in Vienna condemned the attacks and said the nuclear watchdog must address them in future.
"The unprecedented attacks by the US and the Zionist regime on Iran's nuclear facilities must be reflected in the IAEA Director General’s reports on nuclear safety and security," Reza Najafi said.
“These unprecedented and illegal actions pose a serious threat to international peace and security, undermine nuclear safety and security, and damage the non-proliferation regime,” Tasnim News quoted Najafi as saying.
His comments came shortly before Iran's foreign ministry confirmed that Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi plans to meet the UN nuclear watchdog's chief during his Tuesday visit to Egypt.
The two sides will meet to finalize negotiations on the new framework for Iran-IAEA cooperation, Esmail Baghaei said.
The meeting will be held in Cairo, where Araghchi will stop over en route to Tunis, Iran Nuance website reported, adding that it will aim to “finalize the Iran-IAEA deal.”
Grossi delivered his report to the Board of Governors on Monday, outlining discussions with Iran on a possible agreement to resume inspections.
The Trump administration began 60 days of negotiations with Iran in April, setting a deadline for a new agreement. On June 13, one day after the deadline expired, Israel launched a surprise military campaign against Iran, targeting nuclear and military facilities and killing senior commanders and nuclear scientists.
On June 22, the United States began its own military intervention, dubbed Operation Midnight Hammer, striking three major nuclear sites in Esfahan, Natanz and Fordow.
The Israeli and US strikes were reportedly aimed at sites suspected of uranium enrichment activity, not civilian nuclear power plants such as Bushehr.
Iran drafting resolution to ban attacks
Najafi said that in recent years Iran has repeatedly urged the IAEA Board to include language prohibiting attacks or threats against nuclear facilities, but those calls went unanswered.
According to state media, Iran now plans to present a draft resolution on banning such attacks at the upcoming IAEA General Conference.
The General Conference is distinct from the Board of Governors and serves as a broad, annual policy-setting assembly for all member states. The Board of Governors is a smaller executive body that meets more frequently to handle ongoing issues.
The 69th Regular Session of the IAEA General Conference will convene from September 15 to 19 in Vienna.
Even if Iran’s draft on nuclear facility attacks fits the General Conference for its policy-oriented, normative goal, a Board resolution would be more relevant for enforcing specific safeguards or addressing violations.
