Iran should not be only party living up to JCPOA commitments, says AEOI chief

The head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI) says "political and psychological pressures" on Tehran to be the sole party living up to its obligations under the 2015 Iran deal, officially known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), will not work.

Addressing the 68th General Conference of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in the Austrian capital Vienna on Monday, Mohammad Eslami stated that Tehran’s voluntary implementation of nuclear-related measures under the agreement was in exchange for the removal of cruel sanctions against the Iranian nation.

“The ongoing political and psychological pressures are being exerted with the intention to force Iran into implementing JCPOA obligations, regardless of the commitments related to the lifting of sanctions. JCPOA should not be implemented at the expense of only one party,” Eslami noted.

He highlighted Iran’s full cooperation with the IAEA, pointing out that while nuclear installations in the country make up only 3 percent of the world’s total, more than one-fifth of the world agency’s inspections in 2023 took place in Iran.

Iran's nuclear chief stressed that Tehran's suspension of its commitments under the JCPOA, including halting the international oversight of non-nuclear production, followed the illegal US withdrawal from the deal and the failure of the European parties to the JCPOA and the European Union to uphold their obligations.

Iran breaks monopoly in nuclear products, services, manages to export despite sanctions

The head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran says the country has managed to break monopoly in the nuclear industry.

Eslami also pointed to the assassination of Iranian nuclear scientists and acts of sabotage and terrorism against Iran by Israel, stating that the regime is spearheading propaganda against Iran’s peaceful nuclear program in a bid to divert the world public opinion away from its atrocities.

The AEOI chief went on to say that nuclear disarmament is the main priority of the international community, stressing that nuclear-weapon states are required to fulfill their obligations under Article 6 of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT).

Eslami also underscored the importance of the creation of a Middle East free of nuclear munitions, adding that Israeli authorities, over the past year, have frequently threatened the Iranian nations and Palestinians in the Gaza Strip with nuclear bombardment while continuing to refuse to join the NPT.

Israel's continued refusal to join the NPT and subject its nuclear facilities to the International Atomic Energy Agency's safeguards pose a serious threat to international peace and security, he said.

Eslami stated that Iran is determined to increase its generation capacity of nuclear electricity to 20,000 megawatts by the year 2040.

The IAEA, under its chapter, is therefore obliged to and support all member states and facilitate their access to necessary technology and equipment without any discrimination, the AEOI chief said.

Press TV’s website can also be accessed at the following alternate addresses:

www.presstv.ir