Iran will maintain discussions with the UN nuclear watchdog, with another round of negotiations likely in the coming days, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said on Monday.
International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) inspectors have been unable to access Iran’s nuclear sites since Israel and the U.S. bombed them during a 12-day war in June, despite IAEA chief Rafael Grossi stating that inspections remain his top priority.
“We had talks (with the IAEA) last week. These talks will continue, and there will be another round of talks between Iran and the agency, probably in the coming days,” Baghaei said.
Tehran Accuses IAEA Of Bias
Tehran has accused the IAEA of effectively paving the way for the Israel-U.S. attacks with a report on May 31 that led the IAEA’s 35-nation Board of Governors to declare Iran in breach of its non-proliferation obligations.
The Islamic Republic has long denied Western suspicions of a covert effort to develop nuclear weapons capability, saying it remains committed to the Non-Proliferation Treaty that mandates peaceful uses of atomic energy for signatories.
“The level of our relations (with the IAEA) has changed after the events that took place; we do not deny that. However, our relations…remain direct,” Baghaei said during a televised weekly news conference.
Last month, Iran enacted a law passed by parliament suspending cooperation with the IAEA. The law stipulates that any future inspections of Iranian nuclear sites need approval by Tehran’s Supreme National Security Council.
Iran Vows Cooperation
Iran’s foreign minister, Abbas Araqchi, said last month that Tehran would continue working with the IAEA despite limitations set by its parliament. However, he cautioned that allowing access to nuclear sites damaged in recent bombings presents serious safety and security challenges.
The new law stipulates that any future inspection of Iran’s nuclear sites by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) needs approval by the Supreme National Security Council, Iran’s top security body.
Araqchi’s remarks came amid renewed international scrutiny following reports of sabotage at Iranian nuclear installations.
“The risk of spreading radioactive materials and the risk of exploding leftover munitions … are serious,” state media cited Araqchi as saying. “For us, IAEA inspectors approaching nuclear sites has both a security aspect … and the safety of the inspectors themselves is a matter that must be examined.”
(With inputs from Reuters)
