TEHRAN, Mar 4 (NNN-IRNA) – Iran’s Foreign Ministry Spokesman, Esmaeil Baghaei, yesterday, slammed what he described as “untrue” claims by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), and its Director General, Rafael Grossi, regarding the nature of Iran’s “peaceful” nuclear programme.
Baghaei made the remarks during a weekly press conference in Tehran, responding to recent IAEA reports, which stated that Iran had “substantially raised” its production of highly enriched uranium since Dec, increasing its stockpile of near-weapons-grade material.
Baghaei said, Tehran expected the IAEA chief to act within the framework of his authority and duties, stating that making political conjectures was neither part of Grossi’s responsibilities nor helpful in resolving concerns about Iran’s nuclear programme.
“Such statements are in no way based on realities,” he added, noting that, Iran’s nuclear programme had repeatedly been proved to be within the frameworks of international law, the safeguards agreement with the IAEA, and the Non-Proliferation Treaty.
Baghaei also suggested that the IAEA’s actions were influenced by the demands of certain Western countries, implying that the reports stemmed from political rather than technical concerns.
In its reports, seen by the media last Wednesday, the IAEA claimed that Iran’s stock of uranium enriched to up to 60 percent purity level had reached 274.8 kg, which, according to an IAEA yardstick, “is enough for six nuclear bombs, if enriched further.”
Iran signed a nuclear deal, formally known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), with world powers in July, 2015, accepting restrictions on its nuclear programme in exchange for lifting sanctions.
However, the United States withdrew from the agreement in May, 2018, and reinstated sanctions, prompting Iran to scale back some of its nuclear commitments.
Efforts to revive the JCPOA commenced in Apr, 2021 in Vienna, Austria. Despite multiple rounds of negotiations, no substantial progress has been reported since the last talks in Aug, 2022.– NNN-IRNA
