“It is a mistake that Iran’s nuclear issue [which is being considered] at the IAEA Board of Governors should lead to new measures and [such a state of affairs] is illogical and illegal,” the ministry’s spokesman, Ramin Mehmanparast, said on Tuesday.
Commenting on the upcoming talks between Iran and IAEA officials scheduled for February 13 in Tehran, Mehmanparast said the discussions will be within the “transparent and clear” framework of the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT).
Mehmanparast noted that the Islamic Republic has already addressed the IAEA’s concerns in full and blamed the agency for failing to keep its pledge of returning Iran’s nuclear dossier to its natural and normal course.
“The main party to blame is the IAEA officials who have continued this trend, only due to allegations made by US officials,” he stated.
“Iran’s nuclear activities are being carried out in accordance with its legitimate rights, and as a committed signatory to the NPT, it is ready to address any concern or allegation about Iran’s nuclear activity in the future within an agreed framework,” he added.
The official also confirmed reports that Iran has produced nuclear fuel from its 20-percent enriched uranium stock, saying that the move came after the IAEA turned a deaf ear to Iran’s repeated call to provide the fuel needed for the production of radio-pharmaceuticals at Tehran Research Reactor.
The US, Israel, and some of their allies have repeatedly accused Iran of pursuing non-civilian objectives in its nuclear energy program, an allegation Iran strongly rejects.
Tehran maintains that as a committed signatory to the NPT and a member of the IAEA, it is entitled to develop nuclear technology for peaceful purposes.
Iran also cites reports by IAEA inspectors who have conducted numerous inspections of the country's nuclear facilities but invariably failed to find any evidence showing any diversion in the Iranian nuclear energy program toward military objectives.
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