US-Israeli strikes on nuclear facilities failed to deter Iran: Eslami
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Mohammad Eslami says US and Israeli strikes caused only a short pause, vowing Tehran will continue its peaceful nuclear program.
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Head of Atomic Energy Organization of Iran Mohammad Eslami listens during his joint press conference with International Atomic Energy Agency Director General in Tehran, Iran, Nov. 14, 2024 (AP)
Iran’s Vice President and head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI), Mohammad Eslami, said on Friday that US and Israeli strikes failed to stop the country’s nuclear program, causing only a brief interruption.
“The bombings could not destroy our nuclear infrastructure. Certainly, there will be no deviation from our peaceful nuclear technology development plan,” Eslami told Rossiya 24 broadcaster, noting that while the strikes created a temporary pause, Iran’s nuclear activities would continue.
Eslami stressed that Iran’s nuclear program remains peaceful and will move forward regardless of outside pressure. “There will be no deviation from our plan,” he reiterated.
Open to cooperation with IAEA under Iran's conditions
The Iranian vice president criticized the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) for failing to condemn the strikes, saying Tehran cannot fully trust the agency. However, he noted that Iran remains ready to cooperate with the IAEA if its conditions are respected.
He also revealed that during his visit to Moscow, he held a brief conversation with IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi.
The meeting came amid Tehran’s warnings that it could terminate its agreement on cooperation with the agency, depending on domestic legislation and the decisions of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council.
Eslami pointed out that IAEA inspectors, alongside Russian colleagues, conducted visits to the Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant, and that inspections were also carried out at the Tehran Nuclear Research Center under a resolution of the Supreme National Security Council.
Iran, Russia sign deal to build 4 nuclear plants
In this context, Eslami announced that a $25 billion agreement for the construction of four advanced third-generation nuclear power plants in Sirik, located in Iran's southern Hormozgan Province, was signed between Iran's Hormoz Company and Russia's Rosatom Company.
The Iran Hormoz nuclear power plant site, located in the southern province of Hormozgan and possessing a planned capacity of 5,000 megawatts, will soon enter its design and equipment procurement phase.
Eslami made his remarks on the sidelines of a meeting with the CEO of Rosatom, Alexey Likhachev, during which the two signed the memorandum of understanding.
Read more: Iran exposes Israeli nuclear projects in major security breach
