Eslami made the remarks days after IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi said the prospects of a swift return to the nuclear deal, officially called the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Actin (JCPOA), “are quite low at the moment.”
“Probably there could be a return to the negotiating table, but if the interactions between Iran and the agency are seen or assessed as bad and the cooperation is not good, the chances are zero,” he said in an interview with CBC News published on Saturday.
In response, Eslami told reporters on Wednesday, “The agency is not responsible for the negotiations, this responsibility rests with JCPOA members.”
He further made clear that the IAEA is not a party to the JCPOA revival talks.
The Iranian nuclear chief also said that interactions between Iran and the IAEA are based on the Safeguards Agreements and the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons Treaty (NPT).
“The monitoring activities continue, and there has been no delay or disruption in them,” he added.
Eslami also dismissed a recent report by Bloomberg claiming that the number of examinations into Iran’s nuclear program fell by 10% in 2022 after Tehran decided to turn off dozens of IAEA cameras at the country’s nuclear sites.
“The relations between Iran and the Agency are ongoing,” he said.
Asked whether an arms embargo on Iran will be lifted in October 2023, Islami said, “Yes, the arms embargo must be lifted according to the JCPOA.”
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