The Director-General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) says that only full cooperation from Iran can prove the peaceful nature of the country’s nuclear program. He stated that several important aspects of Iran’s nuclear activities remain unresolved, and the agency is ready to cooperate with Iran.
The 67th General Conference of the International Atomic Energy Agency began on Monday, September 25, in Vienna, Austria. During this conference, which will continue until September 29, high-ranking officials and representatives of member states of the International Atomic Energy Agency will examine a wide range of topics.
In his opening speech at the conference, Rafael Grossi, the Director-General of the agency, addressed the most important issues, including Iran’s nuclear activities.
He reminded that the agency has always reported to the Board of Governors of the IAEA regarding its verification activities in Iran, in line with UN Security Council Resolution 2231.
The Director-General emphasized that after several years, there are still ambiguities regarding Iran’s nuclear activities.
According to Grossi, significant progress has not been made in implementing the activities specified in the latest joint statement of Iran and the agency in March of this year.
The Director-General of the agency added that the agency has been actively engaged with Iran and is ready to work to resolve outstanding issues. However, only Iran’s full cooperation and achieving tangible results in this regard can assure parties of the peaceful nature of Iran’s nuclear program, he insisted.
Mohammad Eslami, the head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran, reacted to the statements of the Director-General of the International Atomic Energy Agency.
According to the state-run ISNA news agency, Islami said, “For 22 years, allegations (of non-compliance) have been raised, and we have patiently, transparently, and cooperatively dealt with this issue to reach a resolution.”
He further stated that the formation of these “allegations influenced by enmity” is baseless setups and accusations, and said, “Tehran’s actions are carried out within the framework of the strategic law of the parliament (Strategic Action to Lift Sanctions and Protect the Interests of the Iranian Nation).”
Britain, France, and Germany, and the United States, which previously withdrew from the JCPOA, called on the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in a joint statement to take further measures to compel Iran to be more transparent.
The statement, raised during the Board of Governors meeting of the agency, emphasized that Iran must promptly provide accurate and credible information about nuclear materials and contaminated equipment at two undisclosed sites in Turquzabad and Karaj.
The discovery of traces of radioactive materials and contaminated equipment at several undisclosed sites in Iran is a contentious issue between the agency and Tehran, with unanswered questions remaining about some of them.
It is likely that the Iranian regime’s decision to cancel the licenses of eight German and French inspectors from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), which has faced strong criticism, will be one of the topics discussed at the agency’s meeting.
Peter Stano, the spokesperson for EU foreign policy, called on Iran to “immediately reconsider” its recent decision.
He stated that the direct and severe impact of Tehran’s decision on the agency’s ability to carry out verification activities, including monitoring the implementation of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), is of particular concern.
The European Union plays a coordinating role in the nuclear agreement signed in 2015 between Iran and six world powers, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).
