Mohammad Eslami, the head of Iran’s Atomic Energy Organization stated on the evening of Saturday, August 31: “There is no deviation in our nuclear program, and we have the authority to accept or reject inspections and to prevent inspectors from entering the country.”
Eslami stated, “We are monitored by the agency, and cameras and inspectors observe our activities daily, unannounced, and regularly,” noting that “the cutting of the International Atomic Energy Agency’s (IAEA) access to inspection cameras at Iran’s nuclear sites is related to the JCPOA (Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action), because according to the JCPOA, if the other party does not fulfill its commitments, we must also reduce our commitments.”
In another part of his remarks, Eslami referred to international criticism regarding the denial of entry to some IAEA inspectors into Iran, saying, “We have the authority to accept or reject inspections, and this is our legal right, not due to pressure, politics, or force. They propose [inspectors], we evaluate. If we determine that an inspection is not a problem, we approve it, and if we do not approve it, no one can pressure us to accept.”
Referring to the possible visit of IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi to Tehran, Eslami added that the approach of the Atomic Energy Organization under the 14th administration will not differ from previous governments, as “we operate based on programs and are accountable to program obligations.”
While Eslami claims that there is no deviation in Iran’s nuclear program according to IAEA reports, the IAEA on August 29 released a confidential report stating that the Iranian regime has defied international demands by increasing its stockpile of enriched uranium to a level “close to weapons-grade.”
The IAEA also noted in its new report that the Iranian government has not yet reviewed its previous decision to ban IAEA inspectors from its nuclear program, and the agency’s monitoring cameras remain disabled.
