Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdullahian on Friday vowed an "immediate" response from Tehran to any "political" move at a meeting of the IAEA board of governors next week, as several countries prepare a draft resolution calling on Tehran to cooperate with the UN agency.
"Any political move by the United States and the three European countries (France, Germany and Britain) will undoubtedly prompt a consistent, effective and immediate reaction" from Iran, Amir Abdullahian said in a telephone conversation with EU Foreign Minister Josep Burrell.
He also stressed that any decision by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) against it would make the ongoing negotiations to revive the nuclear agreement "complex and more difficult". He said the West's preparation of the draft resolution condemns Iran as "hasty, unbuilt and contrary to diplomacy."
He also said that the visit of IAEA Director Rafael Grossi to Israel on the eve of the IAEA Board of Governors meeting "runs counter to the principle of neutrality and the agency's technical and professional standing".
The Iranian foreign minister stressed his country's seriousness in reaching a "good, lasting and strong" agreement in the Vienna negotiations.
The Iranian foreign minister's position came at a time when a European diplomatic source confirmed that Washington, London, Paris and Berlin had prepared a draft resolution calling on Tehran to cooperate with the IAEA, which is likely to be presented to the council, which begins its meetings from Monday.
In a report last Monday, the UN agency said Tehran had not provided sufficient clarification on traces of nuclear material found at three sites that Iran had not previously stated had witnessed such activities, namely Marwan, Ramin and Torruzabad.
The case dates back years, and the two sides agreed on a road map to seek to clarify questions during Grossi's visit to Tehran in March.