Tehran (EFE).- Iran rejected the recent International Atomic Energy Agency report on its nuclear program on Saturday, calling it “unbalanced, inaccurate, and politically motivated.”
In a t statement, the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the country’s Atomic Energy Organization denounced the report as lacking balance and failing to provide a complete and accurate assessment of the factors influencing the current situation. They accused the West of using the international body as a “political tool.”
On Saturday, the United Nations nuclear agency reported that Iran is continuing with the most controversial aspects of its nuclear program, having increased its production of highly enriched uranium by almost 50% between February and May. This level of enrichment is close to that required for military use.
According to a restricted report seen by EFE in Vienna, Tehran has 408.6 kg of uranium enriched to 60%, which is 48.7% more than in February.
“The significant increase in the production and accumulation of highly enriched uranium by Iran, the only non-nuclear weapon state to produce such material, is a cause for serious concern,” the IAEA warned.
In addition, the IAEA said that unless and until Iran helps the agency resolve outstanding issues, “the Agency will not be in a position to guarantee that Iran’s nuclear program is exclusively peaceful.”
In response, Iran accused the IAEA of issuing the report under “undue pressure” from the United States, the United Kingdom, , and , additionally based on “falsified” documents provided by Israel.
Iran also criticized Israel for not being a member of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) and for “possessing nuclear weapons.”
“The director general (Rafael Grossi) repeats unfounded and biased accusations based on forged documents presented by the Zionist regime (Israel),” the Iranian statement said.
On Saturday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu urged the international community to “act now to stop Iran” following a report by the UN nuclear watchdog which warned that Iran had increased its stockpile of enriched uranium to near-weapons grade levels.
“The IAEA paints a bleak picture that is a clear warning sign. Despite countless warnings from the international community, Iran is fully determined to complete its nuclear weapons program,” the Prime Minister’s Office said in a statement.
“The report strongly reinforces what Israel has been saying for years, the purpose of Iran’s nuclear program is not peaceful. This is evident from the alarming scope of Iran’s uranium enrichment activity. Such a level of enrichment exists only in countries actively pursuing nuclear weapons and has no civilian justification whatsoever,” the statement added.
The Iran statement also reiterated that, according to a fatwa (legal ruling on a point of Islamic law issued by a qualified Islamic jurist) by Iran’s supreme leader, Ali Khamenei, the Islamic Republic does not seek to develop nuclear weapons and that its atomic program is limited to “peaceful purposes,” as established by the NPT, and is under full IAEA supervision.
Tehran recalled that the US was responsible for the current situation due to its withdrawal from the 2015 nuclear agreement and that the European countries were responsible due to their “fundamental non-compliance with commitments.” Tehran accused the European countries of using the international body as a political tool.
“This stance once again demonstrates that the three European countries and the US are not sincere in their declaration to preserve the credibility of the IAEA, nor in their alleged intention to reach an agreement,” the text criticized, about the ongoing nuclear negotiations between Tehran and Washington, mediated by Oman.
IAEA Board of Governors In their statement, the Iranian Foreign Ministry and the Atomic Energy Organization warned that if “some countries” were to exploit the IAEA report at the Board of Governors meeting, Iran would take measures to defend its legitimate rights and interests, and those countries would bear responsibility for the consequences.
The Board of Governors is scheduled to take place on Jun. 9 in Vienna to discuss the latest findings. Meanwhile, European countries have not ruled out referring Iran’s case to the UN Security Council, which could result in the reimposition of sweeping international sanctions on Iran.
All this is happening amid ongoing nuclear negotiations between Iran and the US, with the latter insisting on the dismantling of the Iranian atomic program and “zero enrichment.” This rhetoric could become more forceful with the publication of the IAEA report.
On the other hand, Iran has made it clear that it will not relinquish its right to enrich uranium for peaceful purposes and said that it will only agree to limitations on its nuclear program in exchange for the complete removal of sanctions. EFE
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