Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the International Atomic Energy Agency’s announcement on 19 June that for the first time Iran is not cooperating with its inspectors at two nuclear sites, what new political initiatives they are undertaking within the E3 to ensure that the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action does not collapse.

On 25 June, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)'s Board of Governors adopted a resolution tabled by the E3 in response to Iran's denial of IAEA access to two sites, and its failure to engage in substantive discussions with the IAEA on questions relating to possible undeclared material and activities. In denying access, Iran is not adhering to its legally binding safeguards obligations and the IAEA cannot verify the completeness and correctness of Iran's nuclear accountancy. The resolution reinforced the mandate of the IAEA Director General to continue his investigation, and sent a clear message to Iran that it should cooperate fully with the IAEA.

The Foreign Secretary made clear in his E3 statement on 19 June that we remain committed to ensuring that Iran never develops a nuclear weapon. Iran's reductions in nuclear compliance raise serious proliferation concerns, which is why the UK, with France and Germany, triggered the JCPoA's Dispute Resolution Mechanism (DRM) on 14 January 2020. We are clear that we want to use the DRM to resolve these concerns, and bring Iran back into full compliance with the JCPoA. The UK continues to work closely with all JCPoA parties, including Iran, to find a diplomatic way forward.