Baghaei: The Goal of the IAEA Board of Governors’ resolution is to pressure Iran into abandoning its legitimate interests

Esmail Baghaei, the Foreign Ministry spokesman, strongly condemned the actions of the three European countries and the United States for instrumentalizing the IAEA Board of Governors to cast doubt on the peaceful nature of Iran’s nuclear program.

He firmly rejected the claims included in the resolution, which was passed Thursday morning based on a joint proposal by France, the UK, Germany, and the US, and relying on a politically motivated report by the Director General of the IAEA.

He called the move unjustified, baseless, and oppressive, aimed at putting pressure on Iran to abandon the legitimate rights and interests of its people in the peaceful utilization of nuclear energy.

Baghaei held the initiators and sponsors of this unjust and damaging resolution responsible for its consequences, stressing that the Islamic Republic of Iran will take appropriate measures in response to safeguard and uphold the rights and interests of the Iranian people in benefiting from peaceful nuclear energy.

He described the accusation of Iran’s non-compliance with its obligations under the Comprehensive Safeguards Agreement as completely unfounded and fabricated. He emphasized that this allegation itself highlights the dishonesty and ill intent of the resolution’s sponsors, noting that even the entirely political report of the IAEA Director General did not include such a claim.

The Foreign Ministry spokesperson also recalled the deeply negative record of the three European countries and the US in confronting Iran and obstructing its scientific and economic progress—particularly in the peaceful nuclear field.

He stated that for over two decades, the US and the three European countries have subjected the proud Iranian nation to illegal sanctions and baseless threats under the deceptive pretense of “concern” over Iran’s peaceful nuclear program. This has continued despite Iran’s extensive cooperation, including the signing of the JCPOA, to dispel such doubts. Each time, however, they have found a new excuse to halt or slow Iran’s nuclear advancement.

Despite these pressures, Baghaei stated, the Islamic Republic of Iran, relying on the talent and motivation of its youth, has turned these challenges into an opportunity to strengthen and solidify its indigenous nuclear technology.

Baghaei also expressed regret over the biased conduct of the IAEA Director General in dealing with Iran’s nuclear file. He pointed to the misleading claims in the latest report and the Director General’s provocative interviews on Iran’s nuclear program, holding him directly responsible for undermining the Agency’s professional credibility. He urged the Director General to adhere strictly to the Agency’s Statute and his mission, and to refrain from political behavior.

Baghaei thanked the six countries—China, Russia, Venezuela, Cuba, Nicaragua, and Belarus—that issued a joint statement rejecting the resolution and expressing their principled and legal positions.

He also appreciated all countries that voted against or abstained from the resolution, thereby demonstrating their opposition to the instrumentalization of the IAEA Board of Governors by the four Western countries. He reaffirmed the Iranian nation's determination to safeguard its rights and interests in accordance with the United Nations Charter and the Non-Proliferation Treaty.