Saudi Arabia calls for ‘deterrent measures’ against Iran’s nuclear violations
LONDON: Saudi Arabia on Wednesday called on the international community to take deterrent measures against Iran’s violations of the nuclear agreement.Prince Abdullah bin Khalid bin Sultan, the Kingdom’s ambassador to Austria and permanent representative to the United Nations and international organizations in Vienna, said Iran’s breaches confirm the agreement’s shortcomings.Speaking during an International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) meeting in Vienna, he stressed the need for a comprehensive international agreement on Iran’s nuclear program to prevent Tehran from “acquiring nuclear weapons by any means.” He said the agreement would also reduce the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction in the Middle East and ensure international peace and security. Prince Abdullah said the agreement should include a specific, rigorous and permanent inspection mechanism for all sites, including military positions, with a mechanism to re-impose sanctions quickly and effectively in the event that Iran violates the agreement.
His comments come after the IAEA urged Iran to be more cooperative over its request for information on its nuclear activities. The meeting is also overshadowed by European efforts to salvage the current agreement between Iran and international powers after the US withdrew last year.
On Sunday, IAEA inspectors confirmed that Iran has installed more advanced centrifuges to enrich uranium as Tehran further withdraws from its commitments to the 2015 deal.
Prince Abdullah said Iran did not “harness the economic return” after the sanctions were lifted when the deal was signed. “Nor did it develop domestically or improve the conditions of the Iranian people, but rather continued to provoke internal unrest in neighboring countries and destabilize the region’s security and stability and its continued aggressive behavior over the past 40 years emphasizes Iran’s intentions in the region,” he said.He added “this is confirmed by recent IAEA reports, including Iran’s breaches of the nuclear deal.”Prince Abdullah expressed appreciation to the IAEA for their efforts in verifying and monitoring Iran’s activities with professionalism and high transparency.
