Iran’s Envoy Dismisses IAEA Accusations about Tehran’s Nuclear Activity


TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Iran’s ambassador to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) rejected IAEA’s accusations about Tehran’s peaceful nuclear energy program.

Reza Najafi on Thursday described claims that Iran’s nuclear energy program “has military dimensions” as mere allegations that have no basis.

His remarks came after IAEA Director General Yukiya Amano in a report claimed that Iran had not carried out two of the five transparency steps it had agreed to implement by August 25.

"In order to resolve all outstanding issues, it is very important that Iran continues to implement, in a timely manner, all practical measures agreed" to improve transparency, Amano said in his report.

The IAEA report, on the other hand, confirmed Tehran’s commitment to a deal between Iran and world powers reached last November.

In November 2013, Iran and the Group 5+1 (Russia, China, the US, Britain, France and Germany) signed an interim nuclear deal in Geneva, which took effect on January 20 and expired six months later on July 20.

In July, Tehran and the six countries agreed to extend negotiations until November 24 in the hope of clinching a final deal.

Nuclear negotiators representing Iran and the G5+1 are now in New York to hold a fresh round of talks on Tehran’s civilian nuclear work.

The negotiations are expected to run until at least September 26 on the sidelines of the annual gathering of world leaders at the United Nations General Assembly.