Tehran warns against any unwise decision by the International Atomic Energy Agency’s Board of Governors at its upcoming meeting in March, the Iranian top diplomat said.
“Iran reserves its right to give an appropriate response,” Hossein Amir-Abdollahian said in his address at the High Level Segment of the Conference on Disarmament in Geneva, according to the full text of his speech published by IRNA.
Reports came out last week about the agency’s detection of uranium enriched to 84% in Iran, very close to weapons grade which is around 90%.
The IAEA said on Twitter that it was aware of recent media reports and that it was discussing the results of recent verifications with Iran and would inform the IAEA Board of Governors as appropriate.
Iran dismissed the report as a political attempt to impose further pressure on the country, pointing out that other levels of purity may naturally be produced as a by-product in the enrichment process.
Amir-Abdollahian said at the meeting that two IAEA technical teams visited Iran in the past days and IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi was invited to visit Iran for discussions on the issue.
“We will be very close to a technical solution if the IAEA abandons its politicized approaches,” he said.
He also underlined that the Islamic Republic’s nuclear program is fully peaceful and will remain so forever.
“Iran is determined, as confirmed till now, to remain fully committed to its obligations under its Comprehensive Safeguards Agreement.”
Iran has been enriching uranium to up to 60% purity since April 2021, above the 3.67% cap imposed by the 2015 nuclear deal, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, in return for sanctions relief.
The measure was part of Iran’s countermeasures against the United States’ reimposition of sanctions, after its withdrawal from the JCPOA in 2018.
Iranian officials maintain that despite exceeding the limits of the nuclear deal, the country’s nuclear program remains in compliance with the IAEA safeguards regulations.
Care and Sensitivity
Amir-Abdollahian also pointed to the current status of the JCPOA, saying it is the product of US policies and miscalculations.
Iran and the US have been engaged in indirect talks since early 2021 to restore the faltering deal, but the talks have been stalled for months over final differences.
“Our past experience taught us to become engaged in the new round of negotiations with more care and sensitivity,” the foreign minister said.
He added that the few remaining issues could be addressed easily and the final steps of the talks can be taken within the framework of the negotiations held until present without any preconditions and through goodwill and determination of all parties.
“The US needs to have the will and strength to conclude the lengthy talks. We remain ready to continue until the conclusion of the agreement,” he said.
The foreign minister later reiterated Iran’s position on the Ukraine crisis, saying the Islamic Republic denounces war and unilateral sanctions and its absolute preference is the settlement of disputes through dialogue and diplomacy.
The Islamic Republic’s principled position is respect for the Charter of the UN and international law, including non-use of force or threat to force, territorial integrity, and sovereign equality, according to the minister.
“Iran is conveying its deep regret for the continuation of the war and is reaffirming its neutral position,” he said.
Western countries have been accusing Iran of supplying arms to Russia for its war on Ukraine, which Tehran categorically denies.
Amir-Abdollahian called for the activation of diplomacy to end the conflict, rather than advertising and fueling the war, as well as accusing others baselessly.
