Nuclear Infrastructure Must Remain Intact Under Any Deal

Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei called on atomic energy authorities to make sure the existing nuclear infrastructures are preserved under any international deal. 
“Over the past years, nuclear industry officials have developed important infrastructure and you should take care while signing agreements that they remain untouched,” he said in an address to nuclear scientists and authorities on Sunday, Leader.ir reported. 
He also stressed the need to maintain cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency within the framework of the Comprehensive Safeguards Agreement required by the Non-Proliferation Treaty. 
“Don’t accept anything beyond CSA regulations,” he said. 
Iran had agreed to restrict its nuclear activity and allow stricter monitoring and verification by the IAEA under the 2015 nuclear deal, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action. 
It, however, rowed back on those commitments after the United States pulled out unilaterally and reimposed sweeping sanctions that other western parties proved unable to compensate. 
Negotiations to restore the deal have not yet produced an outcome and while sanctions still remain in place, western countries and the agency urge Iran to meet its JCPOA-related obligations. 
Moreover, the agency has raised questions about uranium traces allegedly found at three sites in Iran, requesting explanation, access and investigation. 
The Leader demanded that the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran refuse to recognize such untrue claims or accede to bullying requests. 
“Do whatever you are required to do, but stick with your stance, neither acceding to oppressive requests, nor accepting false claims made every now and then,” he said.
Ayatollah Khamenei also said the parliamentary law, which laid down the country’s countermeasures against US sanctions, should not be violated. 
“This law serves the interests of the country and the nuclear industry, and must not be breached when giving access and information [to the agency],” he said. 
He also gave several other pieces of advice, including the necessity of expanding nuclear knowledge to cover various sectors, so that people will enjoy the merits of those scientific developments in their lives. 
People should also be informed of the useful applications of the nuclear industry besides its energy generation, according to the Leader. 
Commercializing nuclear products and services and improving cooperation with aligned and non-hostile countries to make better use of global advancements were among his other instructions. 
He later stressed that nuclear industry workforce need to be honored and protected, as well as compensated for the special difficulties and risks of this field of activity. 

Satisfying and Promising 

Prior to his address, the Leader visited the exhibition of nuclear achievements in agriculture, health and medicine, industry, environment, water management and power plant construction. 
He described the expo as “satisfying and promising”, saying people should be familiarized with different aspects of these developments and their effects on their lives. 
The nuclear industry, he said, is a “source of national reputation” for the country, given its political importance and global status. 
Highlighting the strategic importance of this industry, the Leader said it is one of the fundamental components of Iran’s power and credit. 
Ayatollah Khamenei also said the West’s claims of concern about the production of nuclear weapons in Iran are false, since they know the Islamic Republic is not after such arms. 
He underlined that the production of weapons of mass destruction is against the teachings of Islam. 
“If it hadn’t been for this Islamic reference and we intended to develop a nuclear weapon, we would have done it and the enemies know that they could not have prevented us,” he said. 
The nuclear industry is the key to the Iranian nation’s striking progress in different sectors, according to the Leader, so the enemies’ real purpose of picking on this industry is to stand against such progress, as well as Iran’s possible role as a model for other nations. 
Nevertheless, the 20-year long nuclear challenge with the Islamic Republic shed light on certain realities, including the Iranian youth’s extraordinary capabilities in the midst of constant threats and sanctions, he said. 
It also revealed the non-human and oppressive logic of those who are opposed to Iran’s progress, according to the Leader. 
The standoff proved the need for mistrust in opposing parties of the JCPOA who made many vows but failed to deliver, he said. 
The Leader underlined the noticeable effects of Iran’s nuclear development in westerners’ historical defeat in disparaging the Iranian nation. 
He explained that domineering powers keep nations backward by two methods, the first of which is direct domination and colonization. 
The second, which is more dangerous, is instilling a feeling of incompetence and incapability in nations, he said.
Despite all such efforts, Iran’s nuclear capabilities have now grown more than tenfold compared to 2003, when the nuclear issue began, according to Ayatollah Khamenei. 
“To stop this course, they resorted to crime and assassination as well, but didn’t succeed and the nuclear industry is now indigenous thanks to the efforts of young scientists and we cannot be divested of it anymore,” he said.