Cairo Agreement Made Europe More Brazen
WANA (Sep 18) – The issue of the agreement between Iran and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), which took place in Egypt, Cairo, still has both supporters and opponents. Keyhan newspaper, from the right-wing faction in Iran, is among the opponents of this new agreement. This influential newspaper, in an article today, challenged trust in the Agency.
The Keyhan’s article is as follows:
The head of Iran’s Atomic Energy Organization, emphasizing the consequences of the Cairo agreement, warned that “from the moment the agreement between Araghchi and Grossi was signed, we witnessed new and harsher positions from the Europeans.”
The experience of recent years shows that Europe neither has the ability to play an independent role nor the will to do anything other than follow the United States; extending Europe’s ability to use the snapback mechanism and prolonging Resolution 2231 only strengthens a new platform of pressure and threats against Iran.
After the signing of the “technical arrangements agreement” between Iran and the International Atomic Energy Agency in Cairo—which was formed on the basis of a generous and confidence-building approach by the Islamic Republic of Iran—some observers thought this diplomatic step could prevent harsh and illegal stances by Western parties, especially the European troika.
But the reality of the situation was exactly the opposite; this agreement not only failed to correct Europe’s behavior regarding the snapback mechanism, it actually “Brazened the Europeans.”
Finalization of Iran-IAEA Understanding. Social media / WANA News Agency
The European Troika Statement: Overlooking the Attack on Iran’s Facilities, Accusations Against Tehran
A clear example of this audacity was revealed in the recent statement of the European troika at the IAEA Board of Governors meeting. In this statement, Europe shamelessly ignored the attack on Iran’s nuclear facilities—despite Iran being an official member of the NPT and committed to safeguards—and instead repeated worn-out accusations against Iran’s peaceful nuclear program.
The three European countries claimed in the statement that Iran, by establishing the “Isfahan Fuel Enrichment Plant” and not allowing IAEA inspectors, has taken a new path—an allegation that resembles political scenario-building more than a technical report.
They further declared, in a demanding tone, that the Agency has been unaware for nearly three months about the status of thousands of kilograms of enriched uranium in Iran, while in fact this delay stems from the same hostile actions and Europe’s support for sabotage attacks on Iran’s nuclear facilities.
In reality, this part of the European troika’s statement clearly shows that their main goal is not technical monitoring and precise implementation of Agency regulations, but political pressure and preparing the ground for triggering the snapback mechanism.
For if Europe’s true concern were transparency of Iran’s nuclear program, they would first have to answer this question: how can full cooperation be expected from a country whose most important nuclear facilities were recently subjected to a sabotage attack—and not only did Europe fail to condemn it, but with silence and indifference effectively gave a green light to the perpetrators of this blatant aggression?
Meeting between Rafael Grossi, Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency, Seyed Abbas Araghchi, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Republic of Iran, and Badr Abdelatty, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Egypt. Social media / WANA News Agency
Europe; Claimant, but in Reality the Accused
In this statement, the Europeans even went further and claimed that since 2019, Iran has continuously violated its JCPOA commitments and that sufficient grounds for activating the snapback mechanism have existed. They once again emphasized that Iran’s nuclear issue must remain on the agenda of the Security Council and that UN sanctions should not be lifted.
These positions are expressed while those same European countries, as committed members of the JCPOA, did not fulfill the smallest of their own economic and political obligations toward Iran, and now, posing as the “bad cop,” are trying to complete America’s maximum pressure campaign.
Indeed, this part of the European troika’s statement is a clear document of the extent of their hostility and animosity toward the Islamic Republic of Iran. They explicitly stated that “since 2019, there have been sufficient reasons to activate the snapback mechanism,” and that they have only delayed this action for political reasons.
In other words, the three European countries inadvertently revealed their real intention—an intention that is nothing but continuous pressure, constant threats, and holding Iran’s nuclear file hostage.
This open admission shows any fair-minded person that even acts of goodwill and every type of confidence-building measure in the nuclear issue cannot put an end to Western hostility.
The JCPOA experience, as well as several years of negotiations, has proven that every time Iran has taken a step toward building trust, the European parties have not only failed to respond positively but have instead increased their demands and excesses. Therefore, to speak of “Europe returning to its commitments” or “correcting its behavior in the shadow of new agreements” is nothing but naïveté.
Finalization of Iran-IAEA Understanding. Social media / WANA News Agency
From Cairo to Vienna: Iran’s Generous Diplomacy and Europe’s Harsh Stance
Mohammad Eslami, Head of the Atomic Energy Organization and Vice President, at the conclusion of the IAEA Board of Governors’ meeting, pointed to a key issue: “Previously, the European countries used Iran’s cooperation with the Agency as one of their main conditions, but precisely from the moment the agreement was signed between our honorable Foreign Minister and the IAEA Director General, we witnessed new and harsher positions from them.”
Eslami’s remarks reflect a bitter reality repeatedly seen throughout 22 years of nuclear negotiations: whenever Iran has taken a step forward in good faith and within the framework of constructive diplomacy, Western parties have responded not with reciprocity but with increased arrogance.
Eslami’s correct stance in Vienna once again demonstrated that the Westerners—particularly the European Troika—not only are unreliable partners but are themselves part of the problem. From this angle, his statements were not merely political criticism but an explanation of a strategic reality. He was able to show that the Cairo Agreement, instead of paving the way for reduced tensions, became a new excuse for Europe to escalate its demands.
Europe’s Entitlement Amid Iran’s Generous Diplomacy
Despite these developments, Iran’s diplomacy did not stop. The phone call between Seyed Abbas Araghchi and France’s Foreign Minister “Barreau” on the evening of September 16, as well as consecutive consultations the next day between Iran, the European Troika, and the EU foreign policy chief, showed that the Islamic Republic continues to keep the path of diplomacy open.
Phone Call Between Iranian and French Foreign Ministers
WANA (Sep 17) – French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot held a telephone conversation late Tuesday with his Iranian counterpart, Seyed Abbas Araghchi, during which he expressed concern over rising tensions and stressed the importance of preserving dialogue and returning to the diplomatic track. In the call, Araghchi rejected the European countries’ move to activate […]
But Europe’s response was nothing but entitlement. EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas, in contradictory and arrogant remarks, stated:
“Iran must demonstrate full cooperation with the Agency and allow inspections without delay… The window of diplomacy is closing.”
She even referred to the snapback mechanism, claiming that only a few weeks remain until sanctions return—a threat that makes it clear Europe sees the Cairo Agreement not as a concession by Iran, but as an opportunity to extract more concessions for itself.
Europe: 22 Years of Playing the Bad Cop
A historical review of nuclear negotiations shows that Europe has never played a positive role. From Brussels and Saadabad to the JCPOA and today, the Europeans have consistently acted as the “bad cop,” not easing the burden on diplomacy but intensifying pressure.
This highlights a key point: today’s Europe no longer has a position in the structure of global power, nor does it possess the independent will to act as a mediator or even an effective player in international disputes.
If during the Cold War some European capitals sought to present themselves as a third pole against the U.S. and the Soviet Union, and if after the Soviet collapse they tried to assert an international role, today in 2025, even that illusion has collapsed.
Nuclear deal negotiators pose for a photo at the UN building in Vienna, Austria.
Europe neither wields decisive power in security and military affairs, nor plays a significant role in the global economy compared with superpowers like China and the U.S., nor has political or diplomatic authority to exert independent influence.
The European Troika’s behavior on Iran reflects this pitiful reality. Instead of initiative or constructive engagement, they have essentially delegated their foreign policy to Washington and simply follow along in a bandwagon role.
The repeated statements against Iran, threats of triggering the snapback mechanism, and even the brazen tone in their latest positions are nothing more than extensions of scenarios written in American think tanks, merely recited from Paris, Berlin, London, and Brussels.
In plain terms, Europe in the Iran nuclear file has been neither a good “intermediary” nor has it had the determination to resolve disputes. They are merely enforcers of America’s maximum-pressure policy and, despite the economic and political costs they bear, make no effort to emerge from Washington’s shadow.
This blind obedience shows that what was once supposed to be “the European Union and European power” as an independent force in the world has today been reduced to ineffective and subordinate entities in the international system.
EU Demands Iran Allow Site Inspections in Phone Call
WANA (Sep 17) – The EU’s foreign policy chief and the foreign ministers of Germany, the UK, and France held a phone conversation with Iran’s Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi today (Wednesday), calling for renewed inspections of sensitive Iranian sites without mentioning Tehran’s cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). The German Foreign […]
The Cairo Agreement only Brazened Europe further. Under such circumstances, overreliance on Europe’s promises not only yields no benefit for Iran but also increases the country’s political and security costs. The government’s strategy must continue to rest on expanding relations with emerging powers and independent countries.
Moreover, extending Resolution 2231 is also a grave and strategic mistake. The key issue that must be seriously examined is: what will happen after the extension period ends? Are there really still those who hope that Europe and the U.S.—who over the past year have taken the harshest stances and most hostile actions, including attacks on nuclear facilities—will suddenly change course in the coming months and abandon their policy of threats and pressure?
The answer is clear: there are no signs of change in Europe’s or America’s behavior, and expecting such a shift is nothing but political naivety. The West has shown time and again that even at the peak of negotiations, it seeks one-sided concessions and will never abandon the tools of sanctions, threats, and the snapback mechanism.
Therefore, expecting a “special development” or a “window of diplomacy opening” at the end of the extension period resembles the illusions of the naïve rather than political reality.
Extending Resolution 2231, as experience in recent years has shown, is a strategic error—one that brings no tangible achievements for Iran and instead causes significant harm.
Such an extension means a continuation of threats, ongoing nuclear hostage-taking, and preservation of legal tools for further pressure. While the expiration of the resolution could remove Europe’s and America’s permanent pretexts, its extension merely prolongs the very cycle that has burned away the country’s great opportunities over the past two decades.
Mohammad Eslami, Head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran. AEOI / WANA News Agency
