Amir-Abdollahian: Great progress coming between Tehran and IAEA

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According to Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, the country's collaboration with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) within technical constraints will soon see significant development.

Last month, Iran expressed readiness to provide further information and access to address the outstanding safeguards issues, referring to uranium traces at undeclared sites, said a joint statement by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and Iran in a report seen by Reuters.

In an exclusive interview with IRNA, The FM stressed that Iran is communicating with Washington via multiple channels on the possibility of reviving the 2015 nuclear deal and removing sanctions. 

Amir-Abdollahian stressed that  “a good development has taken place in the course of cooperation” between Iran and the UN nuclear agency, highlighting that Iran was always critical of IAEA chief Rafael Grossi's politically-charged approach towards the nation. 

The FM went on to say that President Ebrahim Raisi has said unequivocally that Iran is serious about cooperating with the IAEA and wants the UN nuclear agency to operate within technical boundaries and away from political matters.

“The more the IAEA distances itself from a political approach and moves towards technical cooperation, the more the path for our agreements opens up,” Amir-Abdollahian asserted.

Iran is determined to settle disputes and resolve differences with the International Atomic Energy Agency within a framework of constructive and mutual interaction and technical cooperation, while adhering to the Strategic Action Plan to Counter Sanctions law passed by the parliament in December 2020, Amir-Abdollahian emphasized.

“We are close to the next IAEA meeting, and we have notified Mr. Grossi very clearly that Iran and the agency can establish a good and reassuring cooperation if certain foreign parties do not get in the way,” the foreign minister revealed.

Amir-Abdollahian went on to say that excellent progress will be made in the course of technical collaboration between Iran and the IAEA since both parties have shown a strong desire to take such a step, stressing that the delegation exchange is taking place free from any media hoopla.

He explained that the Iranian Foreign Ministry is always attempting to neutralize Western sanctions while also attempting to assure their removal during JCPOA renewal discussions.

Iran and the IAEA are now embroiled in a disagreement sparked by the IAEA's Israeli-influenced charges hurled against Tehran's peaceful nuclear program. The IAEA persists in investigating "uranium traces" discovered at "undeclared nuclear sites" in Iran.

The issue has surfaced as a major sticking point in discussions to resurrect the 2015 nuclear accord, which has been deadlocked since last August. Iran has denounced the investigation as "politically motivated."

During Grossi's visit to Iran in March, the IAEA and Tehran issued a joint statement saying that “Iran, on a voluntary basis, will allow the agency to implement further appropriate verification and monitoring activities.”