The ambassador to the United Nations says Tehran will continue to cooperate with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), but issues related to its defense program are non-negotiable.
“Based on our principled position, we continue to cooperate with the IAEA on clarifying some of the ambiguities. However, as stated by Iran’s high-ranking officials, areas related to our national security like the defense capabilities are not subjected to any negotiations at any level,” Press TV quoted Hossein Dehqani as saying on Monday.
The senior diplomat made the remarks in an address to a meeting of the United Nations General Assembly.
He also urged the IAEA to be impartial and respect the right of the country to develop peaceful nuclear energy, adding, “Observing full impartiality and conducting the technical mandate of the IAEA is essential for preserving its authority and credibility and member states’ trust.”
He further said, “The inalienable right of the NPT (Non-Proliferation Treaty) members to develop research, production and use of nuclear energy, including national nuclear fuel cycles for peaceful purposes, must be respected by all.”
Practical Measures
IAEA Director General Yukiya Amano also urged Iran on Monday to fully implement practical measures agreed upon under the framework for cooperation with the UN nuclear agency in a timely manner. Iran and IAEA signed a framework of cooperation in November 2013 in which Iran is expected to resolve all the past and present issues with IAEA.
“Iran has implemented most of the practical measures agreed under the framework, but not all of them,” Amano said at the meeting of the UN General Assembly.
He also asked Iran to step up its cooperation by proposing new practical measures in resolving all outstanding issues.
As part of the framework agreement Iran undertook in May to implement five more nuclear transparency measures. It has completed three measures and has started implementing the two remaining steps which concern the IAEA investigation into what it calls the possible military dimensions of Iran’s nuclear program.
Iran denies the allegation that it may have been seeking to develop the capability to build nuclear weapons and says its nuclear activities are only meant for peaceful purposes, such as electricity generation and medical applications.
Iran has increased its cooperation with the IAEA since President Hassan Rouhani took office last year pledging to resolve the dispute with the West over Tehran’s nuclear program to secure the lifting of sanctions.
