Iran’s JCPOA Compliance Not Changed, IAEA Chief Says
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – The director-general of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) once again confirmed Iran's compliance with its commitments under the 2015 nuclear deal between Tehran and world powers, saying that the country continues to cooperate with the Agency.
“As previously reported, Iran announced in January that its nuclear program would no longer be ‘subject to any restrictions in the operational sphere’ and that Iran would continue to cooperate with the Agency ‘as in the past’. To date, the Agency has not observed any changes to Iran’s implementation of its nuclear-related commitments in connection with this particular announcement, or in the level of cooperation by Iran in relation to Agency verification and monitoring activities under the JCPOA,” Rafael Mariano Grossi said while addressing the IAEA's Board of Governors on Monday.
“The Agency continues to verify the non-diversion of nuclear material declared by Iran under its Safeguards Agreement. Evaluations regarding the absence of undeclared nuclear material and activities for Iran continue,” he added.
The board held a virtual meeting today and discussed a range of matters. However, a controversial report that the IAEA recently released about Iran took center stage.
The report apparently alleged that “Iran has for months blocked inspections at two sites where nuclear activity may have occurred in the past”.
Tehran has strongly rejected any allegations of non-cooperation with the IAEA, insisting that it is prepared to resolve any potentially outstanding differences with the United Nations nuclear agency.
Elsewhere in his speech, Grossi raised the issue and said, “I note with serious concern that, for over four months, Iran has denied us access to two locations and that, for almost a year, it has not engaged in substantive discussions to clarify our questions related to possible undeclared nuclear material and nuclear-related activities. This is adversely affecting the Agency’s ability to resolve the questions and to provide credible assurance of the absence of undeclared nuclear material and activities at these locations in Iran”.
He also called on Iran to “cooperate immediately and fully with the Agency, including by providing prompt access to the locations specified” by the Agency.
Tel Aviv and Washington are notorious for continually alleging the existence of diversionary aspects to Iran’s nuclear activities. This is while the agency has closed a dossier addressing “possible military dimensions” of the Islamic Republic’s nuclear energy program.
