Cornered, Iran Redraws Nuclear Map, Slams Germany

Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has reaffirmed Tehran’s adherence to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT), rejecting growing speculation that the country might withdraw from the accord in response to escalating military aggression from Israel and the United States.

Speaking on Thursday, July 3, 2025, Araghchi also stated that Iran would continue to honor its safeguards agreement with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

This is even as Tehran recalibrates its cooperation framework following recent attacks on its nuclear facilities.

In a message shared on social media, Araghchi clarified that Iran is bound by both the NPT and its safeguards commitments to the IAEA.

On the other hand, according to him, the nature of its cooperation would be revised in line with new legislation passed by Iran’s parliament (Majlis).

The legislation, triggered by what Iran describes as “unlawful” Israeli and US strikes on its nuclear sites, mandates that future coordination with the UN nuclear watchdog be managed through Iran’s Supreme National Security Council.

This it claimed was for enhanced safety and security.

Despite Iran’s reassurances, the precise details surrounding IAEA inspections and site access remain uncertain, raising concerns within the international community.

These developments have prompted criticism from countries such as Germany, whose Foreign Office condemned Iran’s parliamentary legislation as sending a “devastating message” to the world about its nuclear intentions.

Araghchi, however, struck back at the German government, accusing it of blatant hypocrisy.

He sharply criticized Berlin’s unwavering support for Israel during its recent military campaign against Iran, characterizing Germany’s stance as complicit in illegal aggression.

Araghchi took particular offense at remarks made by German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, who controversially framed Israel’s strikes as a kind of service to the West.

“This is dirty work that Israel is doing for all of us,” Merz had stated, comments that drew accolades from Israeli officials but were met with international backlash and outrage from Tehran.

In response, Araghchi condemned what he described as Germany’s endorsement of attacks on safeguarded nuclear facilities.

He described it as a violation of international law and an affront to Iran’s sovereignty.

He also accused Berlin of betraying its obligations under the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).

This was the multilateral nuclear deal that the US unilaterally abandoned in 2018 during President Donald Trump’s first term.

While the JCPOA allows Iran to enrich uranium under strict oversight, Germany’s recent calls for zero enrichment have been perceived in Tehran as another sign of duplicity.

Further escalating tensions, Araghchi invoked Germany’s historical complicity in the Iran-Iraq War of the 1980s.

He alleged that companies from then-West Germany supplied Saddam Hussein with materials used in chemical weapons that were deployed against Iranian troops.

Tehran has repeatedly demanded that Germany investigate these claims, but Berlin has not publicly acknowledged any role.

The latest hostilities, a 12-day conflict between Iran and Israel that claimed the lives of hundreds of Iranian civilians.

These included nuclear scientists and top officials, and the hostilities have significantly intensified the diplomatic rift.

The United States joined the Israeli campaign late last month, launching airstrikes that reportedly targeted three of Iran’s nuclear facilities.
In retaliation, Iran fired missiles at a U.S. airbase in Qatar, prompting swift negotiations that eventually led to a ceasefire.

Despite the ceasefire, Iranian leaders have expressed deep frustration with the IAEA for its perceived inaction.

The agency not only refrained from condemning the Israeli and US strikes but also passed a resolution on June 12.

This was just one day before Israel’s attacks, accusing Iran of noncompliance with its nuclear obligations.

Tehran views this move as both biased and poorly timed.

Under international law, nuclear sites are granted special protection due to the catastrophic environmental risks posed by potential radioactive leaks.

Although the extent of the damage to Iran’s nuclear programme remains unclear, the Pentagon claimed that the recent airstrikes may have delayed Iran’s progress by one to two years.

However, IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi offered a more cautious assessment, suggesting Iran could resume uranium enrichment within months.

Iran maintains that its nuclear ambitions are entirely peaceful, while Israel continues to remain outside the NPT framework and is widely believed to possess a secret arsenal of nuclear weapons.

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