SAEDNEWS: Iran’s permanent mission to the United Nations and other international organizations in Vienna has criticized the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) for expecting the normal implementation of safeguards while the country continues to face threats and acts of aggression from the United States and Israel.
According to Saednews, Iran has rejected calls for the routine implementation of nuclear safeguards, arguing that the current security situation makes such expectations unreasonable.
In a note submitted on Wednesday in response to the latest report by International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director General Rafael Grossi, Iran’s mission to the agency said continued threats and hostilities against the country have created serious obstacles to verification activities.
The Iranian mission noted that the IAEA had previously suspended verification operations and withdrawn inspectors from Iran because of security conditions. It also criticized Grossi’s report for failing to adequately mention attacks against Iran’s nuclear facilities.
Tehran argued that the difficulties surrounding the implementation of safeguards are the result of what it described as unlawful actions by the United States and Israel, insisting that Iran should not be held responsible for the resulting restrictions.
The Iranian mission also disputed the legal grounds for claims regarding the possible reactivation of UN Security Council resolutions that had previously been terminated.
Iran urged the IAEA Director General and the agency’s Board of Governors to avoid political approaches and instead operate strictly within their legal mandates. It further called for explicit condemnation of attacks against peaceful nuclear facilities that are subject to international safeguards.
At the same time, Tehran reaffirmed its commitment to its safeguards obligations and said it would be prepared to facilitate verification activities once threats and hostilities against Iran have ended completely and permanently.
Speaking during the meeting, Iran’s envoy to the IAEA, Reza Najafi, sharply criticized both the UN Security Council and the IAEA, accusing them of ignoring what he described as US-Israeli aggression against Iran.
Najafi said Western countries were expressing concern over nuclear proliferation while failing to directly condemn what he called US-Zionist aggression.
According to the Iranian envoy, the IAEA has not only failed to condemn the attacks against Iran but has also avoided explicitly referring to the alleged aggression in its resolution.
