Iran Affirms Commitment to IAEA Cooperation Amid Nuclear Discussions

Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister asserts Tehran’s commitment to IAEA cooperation, emphasizing national security within safeguards obligations. Discussions emphasize resolving outstanding issues and maintaining independence from political influence. Ongoing disputes around alleged nuclear activities remain a challenge, despite past progress in collaboration.

On Monday, Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi reaffirmed Tehran’s commitment to cooperating with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). He expressed this sentiment via a post on his social media account, highlighting a productive discussion with IAEA chief Rafael Grossi in Vienna. Gharibabadi stated, “While safeguarding its national security and interests, Iran remains committed to cooperating with the IAEA within the framework of the agency’s Safeguards obligations.”

The meetings addressed several key topics, including ongoing Iran-IAEA collaboration, resolutions for outstanding issues, nuclear facility security, and recent developments surrounding Iran’s nuclear status. Gharibabadi noted that their longstanding cooperation position facilitates the resolution of existing differences. He further asserted that resolving these concerns necessitates the removal of external political pressures on the IAEA while advocating for the organization’s need to maintain an impartial and technical approach.

Presently, a dispute exists between Iran and the IAEA concerning alleged “uranium traces” at undeclared nuclear sites, claims that Iran firmly disputes, insisting on its openness to cooperation with the IAEA to resolve these issues. In May 2023, the IAEA announced that it would close the investigation into purported nuclear traces at an alleged unreported location due to improvements in cooperation with Tehran.

Following their meeting, Grossi described their discussions as “timely” and emphasized that cooperation between Iran and the IAEA is vital for establishing credible assurance of the peaceful nature of Iran’s nuclear program. Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei reaffirmed that the discussions reflect ongoing engagements with the IAEA. He cautioned, however, that the political biases of agency officials will be detrimental to constructive cooperation.

The Vienna meeting follows Gharibabadi’s participation in discussions with Russian and Chinese counterparts in Beijing. He characterized the tripartite meeting as a significant development in addressing nuclear matters and stressed that ending “illegal and unilateral” sanctions against Iran was a focal point of the discussions.

The Iranian government has publicly reaffirmed its commitment to cooperating with the IAEA, underscoring the importance of constructive dialogue while ensuring national security. Despite current disputes regarding alleged undeclared nuclear activities, the continued interactions between Iranian officials and the IAEA demonstrate an avenue for resolving differences through impartiality and technical discussions. Efforts to lift sanctions remain a significant aspect of Iran’s broader engagement with international bodies.

Original Source: presstv.ir