Iran Urges UN Nuclear Watchdog to Maintain Impartiality in Reporting
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Iran urged the United Nations nuclear watchdog, the IAEA, to uphold impartiality in its reports on the country's nuclear program, as conveyed in a note submitted to the agency's Vienna office.
The note, released to the media on Tuesday, responded to reports presented to the IAEA Board of Governors on February 24 by Director General Rafael Grossi, focusing on verification and monitoring of Iran’s nuclear activities and on the Non-Proliferation Treaty Safeguards Agreement with Tehran.
"The Islamic Republic of Iran rightfully expects that the Agency conducts its reporting on verification activities in Iran based on the principles of impartiality, professionalism, and objectivity," the note stated, addressing claims of non-cooperation with the IAEA.
Iran emphasized its full compliance with obligations, including the Comprehensive Safeguards Agreement, asserting it had facilitated the IAEA's verification efforts.
Criticism was directed at Grossi for failing to segregate issues in the reports, particularly regarding matters related to the 2015 nuclear agreement between Iran and world powers (JCPOA) and the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) Safeguards.
“As an example, verification and monitoring activities related to (the) manufacture of centrifuges rotor tubes and bellows, which are defined in the scope of (the) JCPOA, should not be reported under the NPT Safeguards Agreement Agenda Item,” the note said.
The country’s UN mission in Vienna highlighted Iran's cessation of voluntary transparency in nuclear activities post the US withdrawal from the JCPOA in May 2018 and European parties' failure to fulfill their commitments under the agreement.
It said in its note to the IAEA that the decision to cease performing commitments was fully in accordance with Iran’s inherent rights under paragraphs 26 and 36 of the JCPOA.
