Tehran criticized Western countries for “abusing the organization” and called on them to act “away from political pressure”

MADRID, September 17 (EUROPA PRESS) –

The Iranian government has defended its decision to revoke the authorization of a third of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) watchdog and denounced that Western countries were “abusing” the organization, which they prosecute for carrying out its activities.” away from political pressure.”

Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesman, Naser Kanani, stated that Tehran’s decision was “based on its sovereign rights, set out in Article 9 of the Safeguards Agreement between Iran and the IAEA”, before stressing that Iranian authorities had previously warned “about the impact of political violations, including an attempt to politicize the organizational atmosphere.”

Unfortunately, despite Iran’s positive, constructive and continuous interactions with the body, three European countries – France, Britain and Germany – and the United States, with their excessive demands, exploited the atmosphere in the Board of Governors for their own political purposes with the aim of damaging the environment. cooperation between Iran and the organization,” he argued.

Therefore, he noted that Iran “hopes that Western countries will avoid policies that abuse international organizations, including the IAEA, and allow them to carry out professional and impartial activities, away from political pressure.”

Lastly, Kanani emphasized the “importance of the IAEA’s neutrality” and stated that Iran “will maintain its positive cooperation, within the framework of the agreements reached,” according to a statement published by the Iranian Foreign Ministry via their website.

Kanani’s words came after IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi revealed Tehran’s decision and regretted that the initiative “directly and seriously affects the IAEA’s ability to conduct effective inspections in Iran.”

“They are some of the agency’s most experienced inspectors, with unique knowledge of enrichment technology. “They have carried out important verification work at Iranian enrichment facilities covered by the agency’s guarantees,” he explained.

For all these reasons, Grossi “strongly” condemned the “unilateral, disproportionate and unprecedented” actions that affected the agency’s normal planning and verification activities in Iran and “openly contradict the cooperation that should exist between the agency and Iran.” .

The situation comes amid stagnation in negotiations to restore the 2015 nuclear deal, which was badly damaged by the United States’ decision to withdraw unilaterally in 2018, denouncing alleged non-compliance by Tehran, while the IAEA has confirmed progress on the program with Iranian authorities.