Anti-Tehran resolution proves lack of technical credibility of IAEA, its chief: Iranian MPs

Iranian lawmakers say the recent adoption of an anti-Iran resolution by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)’s Board of Governors proves that the agency and its director general have lost all their technical credibility.

The remark was made in a statement issued by 260 members of the Iranian parliament on Sunday, which condemned the IAEA's “excessive, politically-motivated measure,” led by Western countries.

“Unfortunately, the [IAEA] director general himself, and subsequently the secretariat of the International Atomic Energy Agency, have clearly lost their technical credibility,” Iranian lawmakers said, hinting at Rafael Grossi’s recent visit to Israel.

They said the trip, coupled with the fact that the Israeli regime does not recognize the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), was the most evident sign of “Grossi’s biased behavior that cast doubt on his commitment to implement his respective organization’s mission, which is to ensure nuclear disarmament.”

The IAEA Board of Governors on Wednesday adopted a resolution proposed by the US and the three European parties to the 2015 Iran deal – Britain, France, and Germany – which accused Iran of not cooperating with the UN nuclear watchdog.

IAEA board adopts anti-Iran resolution sponsored by West

The IAEA

The resolution was approved with 30 votes in favor, two (Russia and China) against, and three (India, Libya, Pakistan) abstentions.

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh on Thursday strongly denounced the resolution, saying its sponsors are “responsible for the consequences.”

“US-E3 put their shortsighted agenda ahead of IAEA’s credibility by pushing a miscalculated & ill-advised Res. against a country w/ the world’s most transparent peaceful nuclear program,” Khatibzadeh tweeted. “The initiators are responsible for the consequences. Iran’s response is firm & proportionate.”

In their statement, the Iranian lawmakers pointed out that numerous IAEA reports verified that the Islamic Republic of Iran, through its goodwill, provided the UN nuclear watchdog with unlimited access to the country’s nuclear sites.

However, they emphasized, the IAEA has failed to use such opportunities to resolve Western claims over Iran’s nuclear program, while raising new irrelevant questions each time that made Iran doubtful of the need for such bilateral cooperation.

Iran vows 'firm' response to US-E3 resolution passed by IAEA

Iran strongly denounces a resolution adopted at the UN nuclear agency

The lawmakers further said that the agency has used the allegations made by the Zionist spy service as the basis for its requests to access Iran’s nuclear facilities, in contradiction to its own rules and regulations.

“This is a clear indication of the political and non-technical nature of the IAEA’s demands on the remaining issues and the three [allegedly undeclared nuclear] sites,” the statement added.

The lawmakers also expressed their support for moves to reduce Iran’s cooperation with the IAEA, such as turning off the cameras that are active under the Safeguard Agreements.

In remarks on Thursday, the IAEA chief said Iran had informed the United Nations nuclear watchdog that it had started to remove 27 surveillance cameras at its nuclear facilities following the anti-Tehran resolution.

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