Iran Demands UN Condemn US Bounty on Nuclear Program
The Iranian Foreign Minister called on the UN and the IAEA to condemn a US announcement of a $20 million bounty for information on Iran's nuclear program, warning of its repercussions on the security of facilities and scientists.
Translated by Qiyas from الوسط — Original source
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi called on the United Nations and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to condemn a U.S. announcement offering a reward of up to $20 million for information on Iran’s nuclear program, warning of its implications for the security of nuclear facilities and scientists.
The remarks came in letters sent by Araghchi to UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, President of the UN Security Council Sanita Pāvela-Deslande, and IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi, according to a statement from the Iranian Foreign Ministry on Tuesday.
Araghchi described the U.S. announcement as “repugnant and regrettable,” urging international organizations to take a clear stance against it and condemn it. He said the announcement, issued under the U.S. State Department’s “Rewards for Justice” program and published by U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM), raises serious concerns about the security of Iran’s peaceful nuclear program.
He argued that the reward offer encourages the collection of secret information and espionage targeting nuclear facilities, equipment, as well as Iranian scientists and experts. He warned that this could lead to targeting nuclear scientists and technical personnel, endangering the security of nuclear facilities, and increasing the likelihood of sabotage.
Araghchi reaffirmed Iran’s right to conduct nuclear research for peaceful purposes, produce nuclear energy, and use it, under Article IV of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT), considering the U.S. move an attempt to undermine this right. He also stated that the request for secret information on IAEA-inspected nuclear facilities raises questions about the reliability and independence of the Agency’s safeguards system.
He stressed the need to ensure that information collected during nuclear inspections is not used for intelligence or espionage purposes. Araghchi called on the UN Secretary-General and the Security Council to warn of the potential repercussions of the U.S. announcement on international peace and security, and to hold the U.S. administration accountable.
He also urged Grossi to ensure the confidentiality and neutrality of inspections, preserve the institutional independence of the IAEA, prevent the use of collected information for other purposes, and refer the matter to the IAEA Board of Governors.
On Saturday morning, U.S. Central Command announced a reward of up to $20 million, along with the possibility of relocation, for anyone providing information on Iran’s nuclear program.
The announcement comes amid heightened tensions between Washington and Tehran, following the U.S.-Israeli aggression against Iran that began on February 28 last year. Iran responded by targeting Israel and what it described as U.S. interests in the region, before a ceasefire agreement was reached in April.
On June 18 last year, Washington and Tehran signed a memorandum of understanding on freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, but its implementation was stalled due to disputes over the security of the strait.
