President Raeisi: Iran expects 'professional, non-political' IAEA approach

Iranian President Ebrahim Raeisi says Tehran expects the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to adopt a "professional" approach to its nuclear energy program and refrain from being affected by certain powers which are pursuing their own specific goals.

In a meeting with the IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi in Tehran on Saturday, Raeisi said Iran has had the highest level of cooperation with the agency based on its goodwill gesture.

Pointing to Grossi's negotiations with Iranian officials in Tehran, the president expressed hope that the IAEA will act based on professional and fair behavior and the principle of neutrality to announce realities regarding Iran's peaceful nuclear activities and the country's adherence to regulations.

He said the visits by the IAEA's officials to Tehran indicate the Islamic Republic's "firm determination to have constructive cooperation with the agency."

Underscoring the need to use nuclear energy in industry, agriculture and medicine to improve people's welfare, Raeisi said, "Some countries, the US and the Zionist regime (Israel) at the top of them, have used the nuclear issue as an excuse to put more pressure on the Iranian people, while this regime has not become a member of the agency and does not act according to its regulations."

The Iranian president said the United States was the first violator of the 2015 nuclear agreement, formally known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), through its unilateral withdrawal from the accord.

He said the three European signatories to the JCPOA -- Britain, France and Germany -- have also failed to fulfill their obligations as per the agreement despite Iran's adherence to its commitments as verified more than 15 times in the IAEA reports.

Iran and the IAEA are at odds over several issues concerning the country's nuclear activities. The UN nuclear watchdog said in a confidential quarterly report that it had detected particles of uranium enriched to 83.7 percent during an inspection of the Fordow nuclear facility on January 22.

On Wednesday, Eslami rejected the accusation, asserting that there has been “no deviation” in Iran's peaceful nuclear activities.

Very constructive, positive talks with Iranian officials in Tehran: Grossi

The UN nuclear watchdog head said he held very constructive and positive talks with Iranian officials in Tehran which would prepare the ground for future interaction between the two sides and enhanced bilateral cooperation.

It is inevitable to use nuclear energy to promote people's welfare, Grossi said.

He said ill-wishers are not interested in successful cooperation between Iran and the IAEA. The expansion of bilateral cooperation, he said, would be the best response to them.

The IAEA chief said Iranian officials are resolute on the revival of the JCPOA to meet people's demands, expressing confidence that the restoration of the accord would be possible if the parties show political will.

The Iranian president's deputy chief of staff for political affairs, Mohammad Jamshidi, said in a post on his Twitter account that Grossi "expressed satisfaction with a common agenda reached to pave the way for cooperation."

"President Raeisi called cooperation a two-way street that continues based on Agency independence and fulfillment of the rights of Iranian nation," he tweeted.

Speaking in a joint press conference with the Head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran Mohammad Eslami on Saturday, the UN nuclear agency chief said any military attack on nuclear facilities is outlawed, responding to US and Israeli threats to target those in Iran.

IAEA chief: Any military attack on nuclear facilities is 'illegal'

Head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Rafael Grossi says any military attack on nuclear facilities is outlawed, responding to US and Israeli threats to target those in Iran.

He cited "great expectation" about the ongoing talks with Iran on two sets of important matters, including the science sector. "Globally speaking, there are two sets of matters that are important. Clearly, there is a great expectation about our joint work in order to move forward in the issues that Iran and the agency are working on, to clarify and to bring credible assurances about the nuclear program in Iran."

"The second set of issues, which is very important, has to do with (the) scientific, technical cooperation we are having and will continue to have with Iran," he said.

Grossi said the talks were taking place in an "atmosphere of work, honesty and cooperation".

Iran FM, IAEA chief agree to promote cooperation

In a meeting, Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian and the IAEA chief agreed to further strengthen bilateral cooperation. Amir-Abdollahian reiterated Iran's resolve to solve technical issues pertaining to the Safeguards Agreements in the shortest possible time.

Grossi, for his part, said the IAEA is ready to settle issues between the two sides through technical and diplomatic approaches.

He said the IAEA welcomes any constructive initiative that helps the Vienna talks parties reach a final agreement on the JCPOA revival.

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