West uses IAEA as a tool: AEOI
Eslami rejects Grossi’s claim over inspectors
Head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI) Mohammad Eslami said on Tuesday that Western powers use the International Atomic Energy Organization (IAEA) as a
tool.
Speaking at the unveiling ceremony of the achievements of his organization in the field of radiopharmaceuticals, Eslami dismissed the International Atomic Energy Agency chief’s claims over Tehran’s failure to work with the UN nuclear watchdog’s inspectors, noting that “We act according to safeguards; when they introduce an inspector, we have the right to accept or reject.”
On Monday, the IAEA chief Rafael Grossi alleged that Tehran has failed to answer questions about its past nuclear activities at three sites and has denied access to the sites for the nuclear agency’s inspectors.
We do not have any activities other than safeguards and the NPT framework; the IAEA’s report is based on JCPOA, Eslami said.
But when the parties did not fulfill their commitments, pressure on Iran is not acceptable, the AEOI head added.
In early October, Iran announced it had barred from future activities in the country a few European IAEA inspectors, who have a history of “harsh and political behavior” against Tehran. Tehran has put the number of the delisted inspectors at “three or four,” explaining that the number is a tiny fraction of the total 127 approved inspectors.
Regarding the sale of Iran’s heavy water, Eslami said at the unveiling ceremony, “We sell our heavy water officially.”
The US bought it once, and today we have requests from other countries, he further noted, stating that our strategy is to process heavy water and use its derivatives.
Regarding nuclear cooperation with Iraq, he noted that the country has reached an agreement with AEOI on radiopharmaceuticals according to which Iranian radiopharmaceuticals are being sent to the neighboring country.
“We are ready to extend our ties,” Eslami said.