Iran’s spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei has rebuked the IAEA’s assertions about Iran’s nuclear program, claiming they are politically motivated and baseless. He highlighted that Iran’s enriched uranium production is legitimate and within international law. This statement comes amid ongoing stalled negotiations related to the JCPOA after the U.S. withdrawal in 2018, with little progress made since 2022.
On March 3, 2025, Iran’s Foreign Ministry Spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei criticized the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and its Director General, Rafael Grossi, for what he termed “untrue” claims regarding Iran’s nuclear program. During a press conference in Tehran, Baghaei addressed recent IAEA reports alleging that Iran had significantly increased its production of highly enriched uranium, making it closer to possessing near-weapons-grade material.
Baghaei emphasized that the IAEA chief should remain within his professional boundaries and avoid making political assertions, which he argued do not help in solving concerns about Iran’s nuclear activities. He reiterated that Iran’s program operates within the framework of international laws, the safeguards agreement with the IAEA, and the Non-Proliferation Treaty, and labeled the IAEA’s statements as disconnected from reality.
In response to the IAEA’s claim that Iran’s stockpile of uranium enriched to 60% purity reached 274.8 kg, Baghaei implied that such assessments were influenced by certain Western interests, indicating a political origin rather than a technical basis. This assertion reflects Tehran’s longstanding belief that external forces manipulate perceptions of its nuclear ambitions.
Iran initially agreed to the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) in July 2015, which included restrictions on its nuclear program in exchange for sanctions relief. However, the U.S. withdrawal from the agreement in May 2018 and the subsequent re-imposition of sanctions led Iran to roll back its nuclear commitments. Despite ongoing efforts since April 2021 in Vienna to rejuvenate the JCPOA, little progress has been noted since the last round of discussions in August 2022.
In summary, Iran’s Foreign Ministry condemned the IAEA’s reports as politically motivated and inaccurate, reaffirming the legal basis for its nuclear program. The ongoing negotiations surrounding the JCPOA continue without significant advancement, amidst rising tensions about uranium enrichment levels. Iran maintains that it operates within the frameworks established by international agreements, indicating a continued dispute over the interpretation of its nuclear activities.
Original Source: english.news.cn
