IAEA Urged to Uphold Coop. on Nuclear Security

The head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran has urged the UN nuclear agency to ensure that international cooperation with Iran on promotion of nuclear security continues despite the US hostile approach to the issue.
Ali Akbar Salehi is in Vienna, Austria, to participate in the International Conference on Nuclear Security (ICONS 2020), Tasnim News Agency reported.
In an address on Monday to the conference themed “Sustaining and Strengthening Efforts”, Salehi highlighted Iran’s ongoing activities in the nuclear security sector and called on the international community to combat threats such as cyberattacks on the Iranian nuclear facilities.
He also reminded the International Atomic Energy Agency of its duties enshrined in the nuclear watchdog’s charter, stressing that the primary responsibility for nuclear security rests with governments.
Salehi urged the UN agency to make arrangements to guarantee that international cooperation with Iran in the nuclear security sphere will continue and to prevent any harm to the course of cooperation under any pretext.
He praised IAEA for cooperating with Iran in issues related to nuclear security, outlining the methods adopted by Tehran to ensure the security of its nuclear sites in accordance with IAEA’s regulations.
The Iranian official also described the 2015 nuclear deal as a significant international achievement, blasting the unwise US policies concerning the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action. He reminded Europe about its responsibility to save the nuclear deal and distance itself from Washington’s unilateral policies.
The top Iranian nuclear official’s visit to Vienna comes a few days after the US imposed sanctions on him. The US Treasury Department announced sanctions targeting the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran and its chief on January 30.
ICONS 2020 includes a scientific and technical program comprising high-level policy discussions on the overall themes central to nuclear security and parallel technical sessions on related specialized scientific, technical, legal and regulatory issues, according to IAEA.
The previous conference in 2016 attracted over 2,000 participants, including 47 government ministers, from 139 member states and 29 intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations.