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Biden Admin. Tells Allies: Back Off Iran on Nuclear Weapons

By Theodore Bunker | Monday, 27 May 2024 11:28 AM EDT


President Joe Biden's administration is privately pushing allied countries in Europe not to proceed with plans to censure Iran over its nuclear program, The Wall Street Journal reports.

The U.S. is reportedly attempting to convince Great Britain and France not to censure Iran during the next meeting of the International Atomic Energy Agency member state board in June, multiple diplomats told the Journal, adding that the U.S. is pressuring several countries to abstain should a vote to censure Iran take place. U.S. officials denied the report, with one unnamed official calling the claims "totally false."

Another American official, who was not named by the Journal, said that Washington is "tightly coordinated" with its allies in Europe and said that "Any speculation about decisions is premature."

The official added, "We are increasing pressure on Iran through sanctions and international isolation."

Although Iran claims its nuclear program is solely for civilian use, it has repeatedly refused to allow the IAEA to conduct an investigation into the country's undeclared nuclear material.

"Iran's level of cooperation with the agency remains unacceptable," U.S. Ambassador to the IAEA Laura Holgate said during a board meeting in March. "The board must be prepared to take further action should Iran's cooperation not improve dramatically."

Kelsey Davenport, director for nonproliferation policy at the Arms Control Association, told the Journal that "The board needs to send a message to Iran that there are consequences for stonewalling. But it needs to be part of a broader strategy. The goal should be pressuring and incentivizing Iran to cooperate with the IAEA and expand their access."

https://www.newsmax.com/newsfront/joe-biden-iran-nuclear-program/2024/05/27/id/1166312/?ns_mail_uid=110c4f27-b39e-4490-8c9e-becd156886f8&ns_mail_job=DM628306_05272024&s=acs&dkt_nbr=01010279gjk5