Latest International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) report on Iran’s nuclear activities reaffirms Tehran’s commitment to the agency’s rules, Iranian envoy to the watchdog group says.
Commenting on the report released by IAEA’s Director General Yukiya Amano on Monday, Iran’s Ambassador to the UN nuclear watchdog Ali Asghar Soltanieh said, “After seven years of constant inspections, the report once again confirms the non-diversion of Iran’s nuclear activities towards military and banned objectives.”
“Although the report has tarnished the Agency’s technical credibility by mentioning technical details and quoting some parts of UN Security Council’s resolution, it clearly shows that all of Iran’s nuclear activities, especially the enrichment efforts, have been conducted under the supervision of the agency,” Soltanieh told Mehr News Agency after Amano’s report was published Monday night.
“The report reflects achievements made by the Islamic Republic and its mastery of nuclear technology, especially in the field of enrichment, and clearly indicates Iran’s commitment to IAEA’s Statute and Safeguards Agreement, confirming that all of Iran’s nuclear activities are conducted under the Agency’s supervision,” he added.
Commenting on appeals proclaimed in Amano’s report, Soltanieh reiterated that the UN Security Council (UNSC) demands are not applicable since they have no legal basis and exceed the provisions of Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.
On May 17, Iran, Turkey and Brazil issued a declaration based on which Tehran agreed to exchange the bulk of its low-enriched uranium on Turkish soil with fuel for the Tehran research reactor.
The US and its European allies snubbed the declaration and used their influence on the UNSC to press for fresh sanctions against Iran.
Both Ankara and Brasilia condemned the new sanctions, saying it was a major setback in resolving the standoff over Iran’s nuclear program.
Following the UNSC resolution, the US and EU also imposed additional unilateral sanctions on Iran over its nuclear program, targeting the country’s energy and financial sectors.
Iran has criticized the UNSC sanctions arguing that as a signatory to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and an IAEA member it has every right to pursue and benefit from nuclear technology for peaceful purposes.