Kuwait city: Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi announced on Sunday that the Cairo Agreement no longer constitutes a basis for cooperation between Tehran and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), following the reactivation of United Nations sanctions on Iran.
According to Kuwait News Agency, Araghchi spoke to reporters after a meeting with foreign ambassadors and heads of diplomatic missions accredited to Iran. He stated that the activation of the snapback mechanism has altered all circumstances, rendering the previous agreement with the IAEA obsolete. Araghchi emphasized that Iran is now facing a new situation that necessitates new decisions, and the country will soon announce its decision regarding the continuation of cooperation with the IAEA.
Iran had signed a new agreement with the IAEA in the Egyptian capital, Cairo, on September 9, which outlined practical steps to continue inspection activities at Iranian nuclear facilities. However, the reactivation of sanctions has cast doubt on the future of these arrangements.
The UN Security Council recently rejected a joint Russian-Chinese draft resolution that aimed to extend the suspension of sanctions on Iran for an additional six months under the 2015 nuclear agreement. Only four member states voted in favor of the proposal, leading to the reinstatement of sanctions.
With the activation of the snapback mechanism, all UN sanctions previously lifted under the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) have been reinstated. This mechanism allows for the reimposition of international sanctions if it is determined that Iran has failed to meet its commitments. The reinstated sanctions include a renewed arms embargo, bans on uranium enrichment and reprocessing activities, restrictions on ballistic missile cooperation, a global asset freeze, travel bans, and extensive limitations on Iran's energy sector.