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The Iranian regime has shown signs of growing anxiety in the face of potential new sanctions from the European Union and further resolutions from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). Statements from top officials, including Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi, reflect Tehran’s apprehension about escalating international pressure on its nuclear and missile activities.
“The European Union is using the non-existent missile pretext to target our shipping lines,” Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi wrote on X on November 17, as news of impending sanctions by the European Union surfaced. He further claimed, “There is no legal, logical, or moral basis for any of these actions.” Araqchi’s statements come as the EU reportedly prepares new sanctions targeting the clerical regime’s shipping industry, accusing it of facilitating missile exports and military transfers to Russia. This follows the EU’s first wave of sanctions last month, which targeted airlines like Iran Air and Mahan Air for their roles in similar activities.
Speaking on state TV, Araqchi expressed alarm over a possible International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Board of Governors resolution against Tehran, threatening retaliation. “If a resolution is issued against us, Iran will take reciprocal measures, including new steps in its nuclear program that they certainly won’t like,” he warned on November 17. He added that Tehran is willing to cooperate with the IAEA “only if the relationship remains collaborative and not confrontational.”
Despite these claims, Tehran’s actions reveal a pattern of non-compliance and deceit over the years. The regime has consistently obstructed inspections, failed to clarify uranium traces at undeclared sites, and enriched uranium to 60% purity, a level dangerously close to weapons-grade. While Araqchi and other officials claim the nuclear program is for peaceful purposes, such assertions have been repeatedly debunked by the international community.
In light of @iaeaorg BoG resolution on the #Iranian regime's misconduct and failure to cooperate with the @UN watchdog, it's crucial to revisit over 3 decades of secretive activities and the NCRI's constant efforts to prevent a nuclear-armed pariah state.https://t.co/EiJenAsaiU https://t.co/lvD6qbumiY pic.twitter.com/qcXZLwOPO7
— NCRI-FAC (@iran_policy) June 5, 2024
In recent days, Iranian officials have openly threatened that Tehran must move to produce nuclear weapons. Behnam Saeedi, a member of the National Security Commission, described revising and strengthening the regime’s defense strategy as “necessary and legitimate” to address regional and international security challenges. Ahmad Naderi, a senior member of the Parliament Presidium, went further, advocating for the development and testing of a nuclear bomb.
“Until we move toward nuclear weapons, balance in the region cannot be achieved,” Naderi declared in a November 16 interview, citing Israel’s possession of nuclear warheads as justification for Iran’s pursuit of a “symmetrical and proportional” deterrent. Naderi claimed widespread support for this shift among Iranian elites and argued that years of costly nuclear investments had yielded no security benefits for the regime. This rhetoric echoes earlier threats from Kamal Kharrazi, a senior advisor to Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, who warned that Iran could alter its nuclear doctrine if faced with an “existential threat.”
During his recent visit to Iran, IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi urged Tehran to take “concrete steps” to resolve disputes and demonstrate transparency. “It is in our power here to take concrete steps that will clearly indicate to the U.S. and the international community that we can clarify things and move forward with concrete solutions,” he said. Grossi’s calls for accountability were met with vague assurances from Tehran, with President Masoud Pezeshkian expressing readiness to “cooperate to resolve ambiguities.” However, these promises are overshadowed by Tehran’s track record of dishonesty.
The Iranian regime not only refuses to cooperate with the agency but also actively disrupts its verification processes.
the initial step to prevent a terrorist and belligerent regime from acquiring an atomic bomb is to activate the snapback mechanism and ensure the full… pic.twitter.com/5wcJ1PkPJ4— Maryam Rajavi (@Maryam_Rajavi) December 1, 2023
The regime’s fear of international pressure is amplified by shifting global dynamics, particularly with the impending return of Donald Trump to the U.S. presidency in January 2025. Trump’s “maximum pressure” policy during his previous term severely impacted Iran’s economy, and the regime appears anxious about the possible reinstatement of similar policies under his leadership.
Adding to its woes, the clerical regime in Iran faces potential cracks in its alliances, despite efforts to maintain strong ties. During a meeting with the Chinese ambassador to Tehran, Ali Akbar Velayati, a senior advisor to Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, emphasized that Iran’s relationship with China is “close and significant” and must not be influenced by external factors, citing Donald Trump’s return to the U.S. presidency. “We must not allow events around us to impact Iran-China relations,” Velayati stated.
For decades, Tehran has evaded accountability by portraying itself as a victim of Western aggression, all while advancing its nuclear and missile programs in defiance of international agreements. Araqchi’s statements and threats of retaliation reflect a familiar strategy of using intimidation and deception to deflect scrutiny. However, the regime’s increasingly transparent violations have left little room for such tactics to succeed.
The international community must see through Tehran’s duplicity and respond decisively. New EU sanctions and an IAEA resolution would be necessary steps to hold the regime accountable. Tehran’s games must not deter efforts to curb its nuclear ambitions and destabilizing activities. The clerical regime has long relied on deceit to buy time, but the world must ensure it has run out of it.
