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Iran declares end of Cairo deal after IAEA passes Western resolution

Iran Press TV

Thursday, 20 November 2025 2:40 PM

Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi says Iran now considers the Cairo understanding with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) terminated, following the passage of an anti-Iran resolution at the agency's Board of Governors.

The Board on Thursday narrowly approved the resolution drafted by the European Troika - France, Germany and the UK - and the United States—passing 19-3 with 12 abstentions—that urges Tehran to "without delay" report on its enriched uranium stockpile and facilities damaged in the June aggression by Israel and the US, while omitting any mention of Iran's longstanding cooperation with the agency.

Araghchi condemned the move, calling the resolution "illegal and unjustified." He said the measure was adopted "under pressure from these four countries" despite opposition or abstentions from 15 board members.

Araghchi said the action undermined the IAEA's "credibility and independence" and would disrupt the agency's cooperation with Iran.

He added that although the Cairo understanding had "effectively lost its basis" after the three European countries sought to trigger the return of cancelled UN Security Council resolutions, Tehran has now formally notified the IAEA's director general that the arrangement "is no longer valid and is considered terminated."

The Cairo understanding refers to a deal reached in Cairo, Egypt, between Iran and the IAEA in September 2025, under which they agreed on a technical framework to resume cooperation and inspections.

Iran's IAEA Ambassador Reza Najafi blasted the IAEA's Board for adopting a "political and unconstructive" resolution against Iran's peaceful nuclear program, describing the move by the US and E3 as a "discredited attempt" to compensate for their failed so-called snapback bid.

On August 28, the European trio invoked the "snapback" mechanism to restore UN sanctions against Iran, further complicating diplomacy to resolve tensions.

Iran, Russia, China, and certain other countries have rejected the European move, saying the 2015 nuclear deal has expired and all the relevant UN sanctions against Iran have become null and void.

Najafi said the text of the resolution merely repeats the political positions of its sponsors, distorts safeguards obligations, and reflects "an unconvincing attempt" to revive the so-called snapback mechanism through the IAEA.

Najafi noted that "with this resolution, the US and the E3 cannot compensate for their unlawful and failed snapback attempt in New York."

He said the sponsors of the resolution have "turned a blind eye and a deaf ear," making no reference during the Board's special sessions to the attacks on Iran's safeguarded facilities, nor did they acknowledge the IAEA's official report documenting the Israeli and US strikes in June 2025.

On June 13, Israel launched an unprovoked war against Iran, assassinating many high-ranking military commanders, nuclear scientists, and ordinary civilians.

More than a week later, the United States also entered the war by bombing three Iranian nuclear sites in a grave violation of the United Nations Charter, international law, and the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT).

On June 24, Iran, through its successful retaliatory operations against both the Israeli regime and the US, managed to impose a halt to the illegal assault.

According to Najafi, these countries deliberately avoid any mention of their own "aggressive actions," as one of the perpetrators is simultaneously a key supporter of the draft resolution and seeks to mislead member states to evade responsibility.

He added that such a portrayal is "detached from reality" and ignores the extraordinary circumstances created by the assaults.

The Iranian envoy stated that the latest report by IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi clearly shows that the current situation is the direct result of "unlawful and provocative attacks" by the United States and Israel on Iran's safeguarded nuclear facilities.

The IAEA itself, he said, has acknowledged that normal implementation of safeguards became "practically impossible" due to the security implications of the attacks, forcing the Agency to fully withdraw its inspectors.

Despite this, Iran cooperated in good faith to facilitate the resumption of verification activities, and approved all IAEA requests for access to sites unaffected by the attacks. Inspectors have maintained full access to those locations, he said.

The Iranian ambassador warned that the joint authors of the resolution are "mistakenly relying on pressure and threats," interpreting diplomacy as a tool for stripping Iran of its legitimate rights—an approach that the Iranian nation "has never accepted and will never accept."