Iran Energy News Oil, Gas, Petrochemical and Energy Field Specialized Channel
Related Articles
Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian in a phone conversation with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres blasted the US and its allies for sponsoring a “hasty and politically-driven” resolution at the IAEA Board of Governors against Iran.
Amir Abdollahian criticized the US and its European allies for the submission of an anti-Iranian resolution during the IAEA’s Board of Governors meeting, and said the move was “hasty and politically motivated.”
During the phone conversation on Saturday night, the two sides also discussed the negotiations in the Austrian capital on the revival of the 2015 Iran deal, officially known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).
Guterres, for his part, said the contents of the IAEA’s resolution were nothing more than recommendations, stressing the need for the continuation of the Vienna talks on the removal of sanctions imposed on Iran.
Adopted on Wednesday, the IAEA resolution was passed with 30 votes in favor, two against and three abstentions.
Following the IAEA’s move, Iran’s President Seyed Ebrahim Rayeesi also reacted to the resolution, saying that the Islamic Republic will not back down an iota from its positions.
“How many times do you want to test the Iranian nation and not listen to the words of the country’s officials? Do you think that we will retreat as a result of [your] issuing of resolutions?” he asked.
“Iran will not take a step back from its positions,” Iran’s president said, adding, “We will not stop and we will not tie the development of the country’s industry, agriculture and tourism to the frown and smile of the enemy.”
Also, Iran’s top nuclear official said the country has begun injecting uranium gas into advanced centrifuges and disconnected some UN nuclear agency’s cameras monitoring its sites outside the Safeguards Agreement.
“We have terminated the operations of a number of the agency’s cameras functioning outside the Safeguards [Agreement], and tomorrow we will terminate the operations of the rest, which are 17 to 18 in total,” Mohammad Eslami told the national broadcaster on Thursday night.
“In the last 20 years, all the methods, behaviors, psychological operations, sanctions, and resolutions that they have exercised and imposed have been in line with the policy of stopping the Islamic Republic of Iran,” Eslami said while referring to the anti-Iran resolution that was passed at the IAEA Board of Governors.
“It is regrettable that an international institution has been exploited by an illegitimate regime and its reputation has been destroyed,” he added.
He added that Iran’s goodwill in the JCPOA was never admitted, stressing, “We don’t look for adventurous operations. We have officially announced what our nuclear program is according to the IAEA charter, the IAEA has a duty to assist countries in developing their nuclear programs.”
“The IAEA is held hostage by the Israeli regime,” Eslami pointed out.
Regarding the Thursday AEOI move in disconnecting the IAEA’s surveillance cameras that were installed beyond the Safeguards Agreement, he said, “We kept the cameras in place in accordance with the JCPOA to show our goodwill, but now that false and unacceptable allegation have been made against Tehran, the recent decision was made.”
He also pointed out that Iran’s peaceful nuclear activities continue in an environment in a technical, excellent environment under the influence of the agency’s rules.
