Iran signals push to address nuclear standoff despite sanctions

Iran's foreign minister said the country is ready to resume efforts to resolve its nuclear standoff but described cooperation with the UN atomic watchdog as "insufficient."

In comments Sunday on his official Telegram channel to foreign diplomats in Tehran, Abbas Araghchi said Iran is 'ready to pursue any solution that helps build trust' on its nuclear program, adding there is 'no excuse left for Western countries to hinder Iran's cooperation or negotiations.

The remarks come a week after the U.S. and European powers urged Iran to return to talks following the reimposition of UN sanctions lifted under the 2015 nuclear deal. The snapback, triggered by the UK, France, and Germany, was prompted by Tehran barring IAEA inspectors from enrichment sites after Israeli and U.S. airstrikes in June.


In September, Iran and the Vienna-based IAEA announced a framework in Cairo to allow inspectors back into the country. Araghchi said that accord is now inadequate.

"Due to new circumstances, including the snapback mechanism, the Cairo accord is no longer sufficient, and new decisions will be made," he said, without clarifying Iran's future engagement with the IAEA. His remarks signal a shift from earlier threats to quit the Non-Proliferation Treaty and suspend cooperation with the agency if UN sanctions were restored.

Araghchi also said the role of European countries in potential future talks "has clearly diminished." He was Iran's chief negotiator in talks with the Trump administration that collapsed after Israel's June 13 strike on Tehran - just days before a scheduled sixth round of negotiations in Oman.

"Even now, if both sides show goodwill and take mutual interests into account, negotiations can continue," Araghchi said. "However, the recent actions at the UN Security Council have made the process more difficult."