Iran’s nuclear chief hails IAEA deal as a good basis for cooperation :: nournews

Eslami made the remarks during a joint press conference with IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi on Tuesday in Tehran, a day after the IAEA chief arrived in the Iranian capital for high-level talks with Iranian officials.

“Even though Iran’s enemies are still unhappy with the country’s interactions with the agency and seek to minimize the measures and decisions through stigmatization and destructive literature, both sides believe that the recent joint statement provides a good basis cooperation,” he said.

He lamented the slowdown in the process of interaction between the two sides on some issues, but noted that the Islamic Republic and the agency expressed hope to work on the basis of the agreement.

The first part of our discussions covers previous issues that were finalized in the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) under the PMD (Possible Military Dimensions), he said, dismissing these issues as highly “political” and “peripheral”.

In this regard, continued Eslami, the important issue is the remaining two places while the issues related to the other two places have been resolved.

“The second part concerns the current situation and we must take mutual and coordinated measures to address the existing gaps and expectations within the framework of the safeguards agreement and the NPT and the considerations of the International Atomic Energy Agency ( IAEA),” Eslami said.

He added that the third part concerns future steps, mutual expectations and the role of the IAEA Director General, who can be effective in removing obstacles which are mainly political.

“We agreed that to draft these three parts, MPs from both parties should discuss deadlines and details,” he explained.

Eslami: IAEA should not take Israeli claims seriously

Another important issue is ensuring that the Zionist regime’s hostile actions against Iran’s nuclear program do not affect the two sides’ interactions, Eslami said.

This is very important because the Zionist regime is the leader in these issues raised in the media, he added.

“At this time, when the nature of this regime is being revealed to the world more than ever and protests are taking place all over the world, we must pay attention to the fact that this destructive regime is behind the anti- -Iranian and we must no longer use the remarks and positions of the Zionist regime as a criterion,” argued the head of the AEOI.

Elsewhere in his remarks, Eslami said Grossi’s presence in Iran was in line with ongoing interactions between the two sides under the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) and the safeguards agreement.

The Islamic Republic of Iran did not withdraw from the JCPOA, Eslami said, adding that it was the United States that withdrew from the deal, also known as the Iran nuclear deal.

The United States has failed to honor its commitments and has not allowed other countries to honor theirs, he said, adding that three European countries have also followed suit.

He noted that the strategic law to end sanctions forms the basis of Tehran’s nuclear measures and that Grossi is aware of the considerations and framework.

“Our interactions continue on the basis of the strategic law, the NPT and the guarantees agreement,” he stressed.

Given his legal status and personality, the head of the IAEA can play an important role in this regard, he stressed.

Fixing the remaining issues requires serious effort, says Grossi

For his part, Grossi said he had very important meetings with the chief negotiator and the Iranian foreign minister during his two-day stay in Iran.

“We exchanged views on establishing and strengthening relations between the two sides,” he noted. “Last year we agreed on a declaration regarding our future path and cooperation in the areas of monitoring and safeguards.”

Resolving the remaining issues requires serious efforts from both sides, he said.

Grossi also said that despite the existing gaps, interactions are ongoing and that he presented a proposal for operational steps that will clarify the future path, adding that the two teams are currently in contact to chart the future path.

According to the head of the IAEA, the two sides do not intend to develop a new document, but will continue to cooperate on the basis of the March document, which has the ability to resolve the remaining problems of the two sides.

Regarding Iran’s concerns about Israel’s destructive role in its nuclear program, he said the IAEA does not pay attention to foreign actors and only focuses on its interactions with Iran.

At the same time, Grossi said the IAEA was attentive to regional interests and security.

He said the agency is working to dispel any doubts about Iran’s nuclear program and move in the right direction with the Islamic Republic.

IRNA