Iran’s ambassador to international organizations in Vienna said Tehran’s interaction with the UN nuclear agency will continue despite differences on technical issues.
“Despite our technical differences with the [International Atomic Energy] Agency, interaction between the two sides continue in this area with the aim of settlement of the issues,” Mohammad Reza Ghaebi said on Wednesday, IRNA reported.
He urged IAEA member states against issuing “hasty or politically-motivated” remarks concerning the status of cooperation between Iran and the UN nuclear watchdog.
The senior diplomat was referring to the United States and its western allies’ habit of making unfounded accusations on the quality of cooperation between Iran and the IAEA. Tehran denies the allegations, citing technical facts to the contrary and reasserting its constant intention of working transparently with the international body.
Ghaebi cited the agency’s recent quarterly report, in which it has affirmed conducting its routine regulatory checks of Iran’s nuclear energy program.
The report cites only one instance of difference arising from Iran’s inability to allow the agency access to one location owing to ongoing legal and security investigation into a “terrorist action” targeting the facility, he said.
Iran’s nuclear facilities and scientists have come under repeated terrorist attacks. The Israeli regime has either admitted to conducting the incidents or is the prime suspect in all of them.
Iran has asked the agency to help it complete the investigations, the official reminded.
He also noted that the IAEA report has verified Iran’s enrichment of uranium up to 60% in purity, beyond the level envisaged in the 2015 nuclear deal, noting that Tehran had already notified the agency of the move.
Iran’s decision to go beyond the limits set in the deal is consistent with the agreement, which is officially known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action.
The deal entitles member states to take remedial steps in case of other parties’ non-compliance.
The Islamic Republic initiated its countermeasures in 2019, a year after the US left the deal and reinstated its sanctions against Tehran.
Based on the IAEA report, the volume of Iran’s enriched uranium up to various levels were estimated at 2,489.7 kilograms as of November 6.
According to Ghaebi, IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi has accepted an invitation to visit Iran for high-level meetings, including with Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian later this week.
