The head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI) has pointed to the close cooperation between the Islamic Republic and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), saying over 100 inspectors from the UN nuclear agency have been granted permission to work in the country.
“We have not barred any IAEA inspector from coming to Iran. A total of 130 IAEA inspectors are permitted to visit Iran and conduct inspections,” Mohammad Eslami told reporters on the sidelines of a cabinet session on Wednesday.
He highlighted the constant interaction and dialogue between Iran and the UN nuclear agency under the Comprehensive Safeguards Agreement (CSA), noting that while discussions about outstanding issues related to two of the four alleged undeclared locations in Iran have been concluded, talks on the other two sites are ongoing.
Eslami went on to emphasize that Tehran stands firmly committed to the strategic law passed by the Majlis (Iranian Parliament), and is interacting with the IAEA within its framework.
The Strategic Action Plan to Counter Sanctions was adopted by Iranian lawmakers in December 2020 to counter sanctions imposed on Iran by the United States and its Western allies, and promote the country’s peaceful nuclear program.
Under the Parliament’s law, the Iranian administration is required to restrict the IAEA’s inspections and accelerate the development of the country’s nuclear program beyond the limits set under the nuclear deal reached in 2015, officially known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA),
Commenting on IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi’s forthcoming visit to Iran, Eslami noted that meetings and negotiations will be held with him during his stay.
He expressed hope that the talks would help resolve the existing ambiguities, and strengthen interactions between Iran and the IAEA under the Safeguards Agreement.
The AEOI chief added the IAEA inspections of Iran’s nuclear facilities are being conducted under the Safeguards Agreement, stressing that the issue has been verified multiple times during the course of cooperation with the UN nuclear agency and IAEA experts have acknowledged the matter as well.
Eslami argued that Western propaganda mills and the occupying Israeli regime are desperately trying to cast doubts about the civilian nature of Iran’s nuclear activities, stating that Grossi has frequently reiterated that there is no military dimension to the Iranian nuclear program.
The top Iranian nuclear official emphasized that the IAEA director general will be attending the first edition of Iran’s Conference on Nuclear Science and Technologies in the central city of Isfahan within the next few days.
The nuclear conference will be held between May 6 and 8 to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the foundation of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran.
Source: Press TV