“IRAN SAYS IT’S FREE TO PURSUE NUCLEAR PROGRAMME AS 10-YEAR DEAL EXPIRES”
GREATRIBUNETVNEWS–IRAN has announced that it is no longer bound by restrictions on its nuclear programme, marking the expiration of a landmark 10-year deal with world powers. The 2015 agreement, signed in Vienna, had lifted international sanctions in exchange for limits on Iran’s nuclear activities .
Key Developments
– Termination of Restrictions : Iran’s foreign ministry stated that all provisions, including restrictions on its nuclear programme, are considered terminated.
– Commitment to Diplomacy : Despite the expiration, Iran reiterated its commitment to diplomacy.
– Western Concerns : Western powers have long accused Iran of secretly seeking nuclear weapons, which Iran denies.
Nuclear Programme Implications
– Uranium Enrichment: Iran has enriched uranium to 60%, close to the threshold for nuclear weapons.
– IAEA Monitoring : The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has been monitoring Iran’s nuclear activities .
– ‘Irresponsible actions’ –
In July, Iran suspended cooperation with the IAEA following the war with Israel, with Tehran pointing to the agency’s failure to condemn Israeli and US strikes on its nuclear facilities.
The unprecedented bombing campaign by Israel and the retaliation by Iran during the 12-day war derailed ongoing nuclear negotiations between Tehran and Washington.
At the initiative of France, Britain and Germany, widespread UN sanctions against Iran returned into force in late September for the first time in a decade.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said in a letter addressed to the United Nations on Saturday that the expiration of the 2015 deal renders the sanctions “null and void”.
Britain, France and Germany accuse Iran of not cooperating with the IAEA and would like it to return to negotiations with the United States.
“Iran’s efforts to revive the exchanges (with the IAEA) that led to the agreement in Cairo were also sabotaged by the irresponsible actions of the three European countries,” the Iranian foreign ministry said in Saturday’s statement, referring to a recent framework to resume cooperation
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