Head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI) Ali Akbar Salehi described his Tuesday talks with Director-General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Rafael Mariano Grossi as “constructive”, stressing that Tehran will not act beyond undertakings.
Salehi made the remarks in a joint press conference with Grossi after holding negotiations with him in Tehran on Tuesday.
“Iran has well shown that it does not accept demands beyond its undertakings. We act based on our undertakings and the Agency acts within the framework of the agreements with Iran,” Salehi said.
He appreciated Grossi and the IAEA for cooperation with a spirit of understanding, and said, “Good agreements were made between the two sides and a statement is due to be issued and both sides are working on it.”
Salehi underlined the need for the IAEA to act based on principles of independence and professionalism.
Grossi, for his part, said that the IAEA acts based on documents and not the desires of the director-general, and added, “We guarantee that the Agency is not influenced but it is under pressure. We do not allow these pressures to affect our activities as much as we can.”
Grossi had last week declared his visit to Iran.
“I will travel to Tehran on Monday for meetings with Iranian authorities to address outstanding questions related to safeguards in Iran. I hope to establish a fruitful and cooperative channel of direct dialogue. It is necessary,” he wrote.
In relevant remarks on Monday, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif ruled out any relation between the visit to Tehran by Grossi and the so-called trigger mechanism that has been requested by the US to re-impose UN Security Council on Iran.
“The visit of Grossi has nothing to do with the United States’ recent attempt to apply the so-called snapback mechanism to return UN sanctions against Tehran,” Zarif said, adding, “We will not allow the US and the Israeli regime, which possess nuclear weapons in the region and have already used such weapons, to ridicule the IAEA’s goals.”
Referring to the recent failure of the US at the UN Security Council to re-impose illegal sanctions on Iran, he said that 13 out of 15 UNSC member states are against such a move.
The top diplomat also touched upon the US’ unilateral and illegal pullout from the nuclear deal in 2018 and its lack of eligibility to use the deal, saying, “They [UNSC member states] are not only against this move, but they also believe the US has no right to enter this issue.”
Once again, Zarif rejected any allegations of non-cooperation with the IAEA, insisting, “The Islamic Republic’s cooperation with the agency is based on transparency. We have never been after weapons of mass destruction.”
