Latest news with #Aragachi
The Hill
a day ago
- Politics
- The Hill
Iran cuts off cooperation with nuclear watchdog
Iran's leaders said Friday they would no longer cooperate with the United Nation's watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), in the wake of U.S. and Israeli strikes. 'The Parliament of Iran has voted for a halt to collaboration with the IAEA until the safety and security of our nuclear activities can be guaranteed,' Foreign Minister Abbas Aragachi wrote in a post on X. 'This is a direct result of @rafaelmgrossi's regrettable role in obfuscating the fact that the Agency—a full decade ago—already closed all past issues,' Aragachi added, referring to IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi. Aragachi also slammed Grossi for not condemning Israeli attacks after accusing the watchdog of passing information about the nation's nuclear developments to leaders in Jerusalem. 'The IAEA and its Director-General are fully responsible for this sordid state of affairs. @rafaelmgrossi's insistence on visiting the bombed sites under the pretext of safeguards is meaningless and possibly even malign in intent,' Aragachi wrote. 'Iran reserves the right to take any steps in defense of its interests, its people, and its sovereignty,' he added. The IAEA earlier this week said Iran's nuclear facilities 'suffered enormous damage' from the U.S. airstrikes Saturday but refrained from using the term 'annihilated' to describe the destruction. The remarks came after leaders in Russia urged Tehran to continue cooperating with the independent agency. 'We are interested in Iran's cooperation with the IAEA continuing,' Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Thursday, according to Reuters. 'We are interested in everyone respecting the supreme leader of Iran, who has repeatedly stated that Iran does not and will not have plans to create nuclear weapons.' Additionally, Aragachi on Thursday denied reports alleging Tehran would resume peace talks with the United States. 'Some speculations about the resumption of negotiations should not be taken seriously,' Araghchi said in remarks aired on state television. 'I would like to state clearly that no agreement, arrangement or conversation has been made to start new negotiations. No plan has been set yet to start negotiations.'
The Hill
6 days ago
- Politics
- The Hill
Iran: US ‘decided to blow up' diplomacy
Iran's top diplomat said the U.S. 'decided to blow up diplomacy' to end fighting with Israel by joining strikes against the country late Saturday night. Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Aragaci further warned of 'everlasting consequences' as the region is thrust into an unpredictable conflict following President Trump's announcement that the U.S. had carried out multiple strikes against at least three of Iran's primary nuclear facilities. 'The events this morning are outrageous and will have everlasting consequences,' Aragachi posted on the social media site X shortly after the strikes. He also warned that Iran reserves all options to defend its sovereignty, interest, and people. Trump, meanwhile, warned in a post on social media against Iran striking back against the U.S. and has called for Iran to make 'peace.' 'ANY RETALIATION BY IRAN AGAINST THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA WILL BE MET WITH FORCE FAR GREATER THAN WHAT WAS WITNESSED TONIGHT. THANK YOU! DONALD J. TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES,' Trump posted on his social media site Truth Social. Aragachi sought to lay out the case that Trump's strike against Iran was illegal. He said the U.S. 'decided to blow up' diplomatic efforts by the European Union, France, the United Kingdom and Germany to reach a ceasefire with Israel. Aragachi suggested the U.S. was in collusion with Israel to end diplomatic talks to reach an agreement between Washington and Tehran over Iran's nuclear program. One of the main objectives of U.S. talks with Iran is to get Tehran to give up its uranium enrichment capabilities. 'Last week, we were in negotiations with the US when Israel decided to blow up that diplomacy. This week, we held talks with the E3/EU when the US decided to blow up that diplomacy. What conclusion would you draw?' he posted on X. Republicans and some Democrats have lined up behind Trump's Saturday night decision to join Israeli strikes against Iran, which began on June 13. But international officials have warned against the escalation of the conflict. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said the U.S. took action to 'alleviate' the threat of Iran developing nuclear weapons, but warned the situation in the Middle East 'remains volatile.' He called for a return to diplomacy. 'The situation in the Middle East remains volatile and stability in the region is a priority. We call on Iran to return to the negotiating table and reach a diplomatic solution to end this crisis,' he posted on X. The director general of the international nuclear watchdog IAEA, Rafael Grossi, said he is convening an emergency meeting of the organization's board of governors for Monday. United Nations Secretary General António Guterres said in a statement that he is 'gravely alarmed' by the U.S. use of force against Iran and called for de-escalation. 'There is a growing risk that this conflict could rapidly get out of control – with catastrophic consequences for civilians, the region, and the world,' he said.
