Iran ‘suspicious’ of UK claim to have played no role in strikes on nuclear facilities
Britain , France and Germany - known as the E3 - met with Iranian diplomats to try to avoid sanctions being re-applied over nuclear program
Iran remains “suspicious” of UK claims to have played no role in the attacks on its nuclear facilities by Israel and the United States as talks continue to prevent sanctions being reapplied, Jewish News has learned.
Britain, France and Germany – known as the E3 nations – met with Iran on Tuesday to try to revive diplomacy over its nuclear program before they lose the ability to reimpose United Nations sanctions on Tehran.
The meeting came just days before the E3 had said it was ready to trigger a so-called snapback of U.N. sanctions in the coming days over accusations that Iran has violated a 2015 deal with world powers that aimed to prevent Tehran from developing a nuclear weapon.
The Foreign Office and ministers have repeatedly stressed Britain was not involved in the strikes, which took place in June during a 12 day long conflict, just as it was not involved in Israel’s operations.
But diplomats continue to stress that Britain has long had concerns about Iran’s nuclear programme, and that Tehran can never have a nuclear weapon.
Sources familiar with the on-going talks confirmed to Jewish News that Iran continues to remain “suspicious” of the UK’s claims of no involvement in the conflict.
The E3 have offered to delay sanctions for a limited time if Iran resumes U.N. inspections – which would also seek to account for Iran’s large stock of enriched uranium – and engages in talks with the United States.
The U.N. Security Council would have to extend a 2015 U.N. Security Council resolution that enshrined the nuclear deal which is currently due to expire on October 18th.
Tehran has warned of a “harsh response” if sanctions are reinstated.
In a move that raised concerns among the E3, Russia and China have now drafted a text of UN resolution aimed at suspending “any substantive action on any matters related to the implementation of resolution” or the nuclear deal by the Security Council.
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