Alghadeer TV Alghadeer TV
The director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) says there has been no change in Iran’s implementation of its obligations as per the nuclear deal it clinched with major world powers in 2015, or the country’s cooperation with the UN agency.
In his introductory statement to the Board of Governors of the IAEA on Monday, Rafael Mariano Grossi first told the meeting that Iran had informed the Agency in January that its nuclear program would no longer be “subject to any restrictions in the operational sphere.” Iran made the announcement after the European signatories to the deal, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), failed to take steps to ensure that Tehran would benefit from it following Washington’s unilateral withdrawal from the accord in May 2018.
“To date, the Agency has not observed any changes to Iran’s implementation of its nuclear-related commitments in connection with this particular announcement, or in the level of cooperation by Iran in relation to Agency verification and monitoring activities under the JCPOA,” Grossi said.
The IAEA chief noted that the Agency “continues to verify the non-diversion of nuclear material declared by Iran under its Safeguards Agreement, adding that evaluations regarding the absence of the so-called undeclared nuclear material and activities for Iran will also continue.
Grossi, however, claimed that “for over four months, Iran has denied us access to two locations” that the IAEA had asked for access to, urging Tehran to cooperate with the Agency, “including by providing prompt access to the locations specified by us.”
His allegations came after Iran’s Foreign Ministry warned the Board of Governors earlier on Monday against targeting the Islamic Republic under pressure from the United States and Israel.
“Should an unconstructive decision as such be taken, Iran is likely to respond with a proportionate reaction,” Ministry Spokesman Seyyed Abbas Mousavi said during a regular press briefing, adding, “They can probably guess what Iran’s reaction will be.”
Iran strongly rejects any allegations of non-cooperation with the IAEA, insisting that it is prepared to resolve any potentially outstanding differences with the United Nations nuclear agency.
Iran’s mission to the IAEA had announced in March that the country will not allow Israeli allegations, which Tel Aviv claims are rooted in findings of a so-called secret operation, to form the basis of the Islamic Republic’s cooperation with the UN nuclear agency.
“The Islamic Republic of Iran believes that merely forwarding some papers based on the Intelligence Services’ fabricated information is not consistent with the Agency’s Statute, Comprehensive Safeguards Agreement, and the Additional Protocol,” the mission said in a statement.
