FM: Iran Critical of Grossi’s Political Approach
TEHRAN -- Foreign Minister Hussein Amir-Abdollahian said Sunday the course of Iran’s cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) within technical frameworks will soon witness great progress.
He stressed that Tehran is exchanging messages with Washington through various channels on the revival of the 2015 nuclear deal and the removal of sanctions.
“A good development has taken place in the course of cooperation” between the Islamic Republic and the UN nuclear agency, Amir-Abdollahian said, noting that Iran has always been critical of IAEA chief Rafael Grossi’s politically-charged approach towards the country and that he has even brought up the issue in a face-to-face meeting with him.
President Ebrahim Raisi has declared transparently that Iran is serious about cooperation with the IAEA, and expects the UN nuclear agency to fulfill its duties within the technical frameworks and stay away from political issues, the minister said.
“The more the IAEA distances itself from a political approach and moves towards technical cooperation, the more the path for our agreements opens up,” the Iranian foreign minister pointed out.
Iran is determined to settle disputes and resolve differences with the International Atomic Energy within a framework of constructive and mutual interaction and technical cooperation, Amir-Abdollahian said.
The Strategic Action Plan to
Counter Sanctions law prompted the Iranian administration to restrict the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)’s inspections and accelerate the development of the country’s nuclear program beyond the limits set by the 2015 nuclear agreement, officially known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).
“We are close to the next IAEA meeting, and we have notified Mr. Grossi very clearly that Iran and the agency can establish a good and reassuring cooperation if certain foreign parties do not get in the way,” the foreign minister said.
Amir-Abdollahian said good progress will be made in the course of technical cooperation between Iran and the IAEA as both sides have expressed strong desire to take such a step, noting that the exchange of delegations is taking place away from any media hype.
Elsewhere in his remarks, the Iranian foreign minister said exchange of messages with the U.S. is in progress through different channels.
The foreign ministry is continually seeking to neutralize Western sanctions at the same time as it is trying to ensure their removal during talks on the revival of the JCPOA, he added.