By Anjali Sharma
WASHINGTON – Iran Foreign Ministry Spokesman, Esmaeil Baghaei, on Tuesday slammed what he described as “untrue” claims by the International Atomic Energy Agency and its Director General, Rafael Grossi, regarding the nature of Iran’s “peaceful” nuclear programme.
Baghaei made remarks during a weekly press conference in Tehran, responded to recent IAEA reports which stated that Iran had “substantially raised” its production of highly enriched uranium since December, increasing its stockpile of near-weapons-grade material.
Grossi had made similar comments on the matter.
Baghaei said Tehran expected the IAEA chief to act within the framework of his authority and duties, stated that making political conjectures was neither part of Grossi’s responsibilities nor helpful in resolving concerns about Iran’s nuclear programme.
“Such statements are in no way based on realities,” he added.
He noted that Iran’s nuclear programme had repeatedly been proved to be within the frameworks of international law, the safeguards agreement with the IAEA, and the Non-Proliferation Treaty.
Baghaei suggested that the IAEA’s actions were influenced by the demands of certain Western countries, implying that the reports stemmed from political rather than technical concerns, media reported.
IAEA report claimed that Iran’s stock of uranium enriched to up to 60 per cent purity level had reached 274.8 kg, which, according to an IAEA yardstick, “is enough for six nuclear bombs if enriched further.”
Iran signed a nuclear deal, formally known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action with world powers in July 2015, accepted restrictions on its nuclear programme in exchange for lifting sanctions.
US withdrew from the agreement in May 2018 and reinstated sanctions, prompting Iran to scale back some of its nuclear commitments.
The efforts to revive the JCPOA commenced in April 2021 in Vienna. Despite multiple rounds of negotiations, no substantial progress has been reported since the last talks in August 2022.
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