Vienna, Austria – Reza Najafi, Iran’s representative to the International Atomic Energy Agency in Vienna, said that the resolution the agency is currently working
to adopt is deliberately aimed at exerting illegitimate pressure on Tehran.
He believes the real aim of the move is political escalation.
It is not about strengthening technical oversight or clarifying
outstanding issues in the Iranian nuclear program.
The Iranian delegate added that the European troika
and the United States are making an unrealistic assumption that Iran
“I am obligated to continue cooperating with the agency according to the terms it sets.”
He pointed out that these parties are ignoring previous agreements
and Iran’s right to modify the level of cooperation.
In accordance with the obligations of the counterparties.
Frequent political pressures
The Iranian official explained that his country views the recent Western moves within the agency as
This comes in the context of repeated political pressure exerted
for years with the aim of extracting further concessions on the nuclear issue.
Despite Tehran’s commitment, according to him, to most of
its pledges contained in the safeguards agreement.
The delegate revealed that Tehran had already begun
consultations with a group of non-aligned countries.
This is to discuss the appropriate response to the proposed draft resolution.
He added that these countries share Iran’s concern
about the “politicization” of the agency’s work.
And turning its reports into tools of pressure instead of neutral technical documents.
Iran demands its sovereign rights
He also indicated that Iran would determine its next steps
after consultations were completed.
He stressed that his country would not accept any measures it deemed contrary to international law.
Or it infringes upon its sovereign rights to develop a peaceful nuclear program.
This new tension comes ahead of an anticipated meeting
of the agency’s board of governors.
Diplomatic sources expect Western countries to continue pushing
for a resolution calling on Iran to expand the scope of technical cooperation.
And to provide additional answers regarding some undeclared nuclear sites and materials.
Tehran insists that political pressure will not work,
and that any further cooperation depends on a “balanced equation.”
It includes respecting her rights and lifting the restrictions imposed on her under the sanctions.
