Tehran [Iran], November 21: The International Atomic Energy Agency adopted a resolution that called on Iran to provide it with access and information regarding its nuclear programme, as required under UN resolutions.
The vote on Thursday came a day after the head of the United Nations global nuclear watchdog, Rafael Grossi, renewed his call for Tehran to allow inspections at key nuclear sites attacked by Israel and the United States in June.
Israel started attacking Iran on June 13, a day after the agency found Iran noncompliant with its commitments to international nuclear safeguards, prompting Tehran to accuse the watchdog of paving the way for the 12-day war that killed more than 1,000 people and inflicted damage estimated at billions of dollars across Iran.
"Iran must . provide the Agency without delay with precise information on nuclear material accountancy and safeguarded nuclear facilities in Iran, and grant the Agency all access it requires to verify this information," the draft resolution text submitted to the board and seen by the Reuters news agency said.
The resolution passed with 19 votes in favour, three against and 12 abstentions, diplomats said. Russia, China and Niger were the countries that opposed it.
"I'm afraid the resolution will have its own consequences," Iran's ambassador to the IAEA, Reza Najafi, told reporters after the vote. Asked what those were, he said, "We will announce the consequences later." "We have performed a number of inspections, but we have not been able to go to the attack sites. I hope we will be able. Indeed, we have to go because this is part of Iran's commitments," Grossi told reporters on Wednesday, after opening the regular board meeting of the Vienna-based agency.
"I hope we'll be able to move in a constructive manner." Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi on Wednesday evening rejected any cooperation with the IAEA "regarding the bombed sites".
"We only cooperate regarding nuclear facilities that have not been affected, in compliance with IAEA regulations," he stated on Telegram. (Agencies)
Source: Qatar Tribune
