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Following the International Atomic Energy Agency’s (IAEA) resolution on November 21, tensions within Iran’s clerical regime have reached a fever pitch. Officials have expressed growing anxiety about the potential activation of the United Nations Security Council’s (UNSC) Resolution 2231 snapback mechanism, which could reinstate international sanctions on the clerical regime in Iran.
In a rare acknowledgment of diplomatic failure, Heshmatollah Falahatpisheh, a former chairman of the regime’s parliamentary National Security and Foreign Policy Committee, lamented what he called “missed opportunities” during earlier negotiations. Speaking to the state-run Etemad newspaper, he remarked, “During the JCPOA negotiations, Iran had a chance to demand sanctions relief in exchange for diluting its enriched uranium. Now, this resolution demands increased inspections and dilution of 60% enriched uranium without offering anything in return.” He further noted, “It seems that Europeans, in coordination with the U.S., are pursuing a strategy of rapid maximum pressure against Iran.”
State-affiliated analyst Mehdi Mohammadi, appearing on state television, described the resolution as “the first step in a larger political project aimed at pressuring Iran.” He predicted that the West would escalate its actions in the coming months, potentially issuing further resolutions to justify activating the snapback mechanism.
Mohsen Rezaee, a member of the Expediency Council, accused Western powers of leveraging the IAEA resolution to “turn Iran into a bargaining chip with Trump,” hinting at fears of renewed U.S. policies under a potential second Trump administration.
According to estimates, the #nuclear program in #Iran has incurred a staggering cost of over $2 trillion to date. Watch and judge who is ultimately paying for this level of squandering the nation's wealth. pic.twitter.com/w5cdxEsV2u
— NCRI-FAC (@iran_policy) June 14, 2023
Masoud Barati, a state-affiliated political analyst, articulated a broader strategy behind the resolution. “Europeans, following America’s lead, are preparing for next October, the end of JCPOA’s tenth year and UNSC Resolution 2231. They aim to set the stage to either activate the snapback mechanism—a unilateral, unfair measure—or use its threat to impose a new agreement, extending and expanding restrictions on Iran,” he said, warning that such pressures would persist.
Other officials have resorted to veiled threats, signaling the regime’s desperation. Ebrahim Azizi, chairman of the National Security and Foreign Policy Committee, declared, “We have prepared ourselves for any eventuality. One of these options includes exiting the NPT [Non-Proliferation Treaty].”
During a session of the regime’s parliament on November 24, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, the Speaker of the Parliament, lambasted the IAEA resolution, describing it as politically motivated and a product of Western hostility. Ghalibaf warned that Tehran’s response would be immediate: “The reciprocal response from the Islamic Republic of Iran has already begun, including the activation of advanced centrifuges.” In a pointed threat, he added, “These destructive and political decisions will force countries to take measures outside of the IAEA protocols to safeguard their national security.”
A leaked document obtained and published by the #Iranian dissident group “GhyamSarnegouni” reveals that the Iranian regime has been allocating more funds to develop its #nuclear program.https://t.co/IGHSQ2n43u
— NCRI-FAC (@iran_policy) June 8, 2023
Friday Prayer leaders across various cities in Iran, who traditionally echo the Supreme Leader’s talking points, joined the growing chorus of alarm and defiance following the IAEA’s resolution.
In Tehran, Ahmad Khatami, a prominent cleric and Friday Prayer leader condemned the resolution, portraying it as an attack on Iran’s sovereignty and credibility. “The anti-Iranian resolution by the IAEA’s Board of Governors, backed by the U.S. and Britain, requires a firm response from the Islamic Republic’s active foreign policy,” Khatami stated. He linked the resolution to a broader agenda against Iran, saying, “The UN General Assembly resolution accusing Iran of human rights violations is another disgrace. How can the UN hold its head high when condemning a nation that supports the oppressed?”
In Hamedan, Habibollah Shabani criticized the IAEA resolution as hasty and unjust, noting it ignored Rafael Grossi’s recent visit to Tehran. “Despite the director-general acknowledging Iran’s commitments, this resolution was issued prematurely,” he said. Shabani’s comments reveal the regime’s failed attempt to use Grossi’s visit to prevent the resolution, highlighting Tehran’s growing isolation.
Alireza Binaiaz, the Supreme Leader’s representative in Kish, echoed Tehran’s defiance by framing the regime’s nuclear activities as conditional upon reciprocity from the IAEA and Western powers. “If we are to fulfill the IAEA’s demands, they must meet ours in return. Accepting their requests while they issue resolutions against us is unacceptable,” he asserted. Binaiaz added, “If they fully cooperate with the Islamic Republic, fine. If not, we owe them no obligations. Iran will enrich uranium and pursue peaceful nuclear energy based on its own needs, regardless of their wishes.”
Biased Ears Can’t Hear- How the World Deprived Itself From the Truth About Tehran’s Nuclear Weapons Programhttps://t.co/Qt2Dnb97ks
— NCRI-FAC (@iran_policy) May 3, 2023
The international community must disregard Tehran’s threats and fiery rhetoric, focusing instead on its actions and decades-long violation of international treaties. The regime’s track record of concealing its nuclear activities and evading accountability underscores its strategic reliance on nuclear ambitions as both a survival mechanism and an extortion tactic.
Amid a severe weakening of its regional proxy warfare apparatus, Tehran is doubling down on its pursuit of nuclear weapons, viewing them as its last line of defense against mounting domestic and international pressures.
To counter this threat, the international community must urgently activate the snapback mechanism and reinstate the six UN Security Council resolutions, a decisive response long overdue. However, the ultimate solution for addressing Tehran’s malign behavior and ensuring regional stability lies in empowering the Iranian people and their organized Resistance to bring about regime change and dismantle this dictatorship once and for all.
