Iran’s foreign minister has called on the United Nations and the International Atomic Energy Agency to condemn a US government offer of up to $20 million, alongside possible relocation, for information about the Iranian peaceful nuclear energy program, warning that the inducement could encourage espionage and endanger nuclear scientists and facilities.

In a letter dated Tuesday, addressed to UN Secretary-General António Guterres, Security Council President Sanita Pavļuta-Deslandes, and IAEA Director-General Rafael Grossi, Abbas Araghchi described the US announcement as a threat to the security and integrity of Iran's peaceful nuclear program.

‘Recruiting accomplices for crime’: Iran slams US bounty scheme targeting nuclear program

Iran has strongly condemned a US reward programme seeking information about the country’s nuclear facilities, equipment, and scientific personnel.

The offer was publicly announced on November 6-7 through the US Department of State's Rewards for Justice program and disseminated by US Central Command, which oversees the American troops deployed to West Asia. It seeks information concerning Iran's nuclear program, including its associated personnel, scientific community, facilities, and equipment.

In his letter, Araghchi said the announcement was particularly alarming because it explicitly encouraged the collection of clandestine intelligence on nuclear installations, materials, technical equipment, and scientific personnel.

He warned that such an offer risked encouraging espionage and targeting of nuclear scientists and technical staff, while raising concerns about the security of nuclear installations and the safety of people involved in peaceful nuclear activities.

Araghchi argued that the offer also raised questions about the credibility, integrity, and reliability of the IAEA safeguards system, particularly when nuclear facilities and related personnel were being targeted for intelligence gathering.

He said that publicly soliciting information about the nuclear facilities, equipment, and personnel of a sovereign state, especially when those facilities are subject to international safeguards, could undermine the system's integrity.

“One immediate impact of such disturbing announcement by the United States is that normal safeguards implementation cannot be demanded, while the very facilities, personnel, and sensitive information it relies upon are exposed to acts of assassination, sabotage, and aggression,” he wrote.

The foreign minister stressed that facilities covered by IAEA safeguards remained subject to international law and that their placement under safeguards did not diminish the sovereignty of the state concerned.

He further warned that information obtained through safeguards activities could be exploited for purposes unrelated to the agency's verification mandate.

“It is essential that the agency's safeguards system not be instrumentalized or compromised by intelligence-gathering activities of the United States in this particular case,” Araghchi said.

Tehran invokes NPT provisions on peaceful nuclear energy

Araghchi also invoked Article IV of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT), which recognizes the right of states to develop research, production, and use of nuclear energy for peaceful purposes, without discrimination and in conformity with their international obligations.

He argued that no state should undermine another country's lawful peaceful nuclear activities through coercive measures, clandestine interference or actions threatening the security of its nuclear installations and scientific community.

The official again highlighted the inclusion of nuclear scientists and technical personnel in the US reward announcement, saying they had to be able to perform their professional duties without intimidation, threats or coercion.

He said the international community had a shared responsibility to protect nuclear installations and personnel and prevent actions that could increase the risk of sabotage, unlawful interference or premeditated incidents with potentially serious radiological and humanitarian consequences.

In the letter, the official asked the UN secretary-general, the Security Council, and the IAEA director-general to “openly and unequivocally condemn this repulsive announcement.”

Araghchi urged the UN secretary-general and Security Council to immediately draw the international community's attention to the announcement's implications for international peace and security.

He also called on the two UN bodies to pursue their responsibilities under the UN Charter in addressing threats posed by US conduct to the safety and security of nuclear installations, equipment, and associated personnel, and to hold Washington accountable for its actions.

Addressing the IAEA director-general specifically, Araghchi called for renewed emphasis on the confidentiality, impartiality, and institutional independence of the agency's safeguards activities.

He further urged Grossi to take all necessary measures within the agency's statutory mandate to prevent safeguards-related information and knowledge obtained through its activities from being disclosed, misused or exploited for purposes inconsistent with its mandate.

The letter also called for particular attention to the safety and security of nuclear scientists and personnel, and asked the IAEA director-general to bring the matter before the agency's Board of Governors and consider the necessary institutional measures to address its implications.

Araghchi requested that the letter be circulated as an official document of both the UN Security Council and the IAEA information circular.