Iran says resolute on its nuclear rights, warns West of counterproductive pressure

The Islamic Republic is resolute on its nuclear rights and warns against the adverse consequences of the West’s counterproductive pressure campaign, says the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI). 

“The Islamic Republic of Iran is firm and resolute in asserting its rights,” AEOI spokesman Behrouz Kamalvandi said in an interview with the organization’s public diplomacy and information center on Sunday.

“We hope Western countries, who have tested Iran many times, have now realized that pressure on the Islamic Republic of Iran is not effective and may even have the opposite effect.”

He affirmed Iran’s full compliance with its commitments as per the 2015 nuclear agreement, formally known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), signed between Tehran and the five permanent members of the UN Security Council plus Germany.

“Fifteen consecutive reports by the [International Atomic Energy] Agency confirmed that Iran has fulfilled its commitments,” Kamalvandi said.

He defended Iran’s decision to suspend some JCPOA commitments following the US withdrawal from the deal in 2018 and the failure of other parties to uphold their obligations.

“We waited a year after the US withdrawal… Ultimately, we exercised our rights and suspended some of our commitments.”

Iran has always emphasized that these commitments “can be returned provided that the rights of the Islamic Republic of Iran are not ignored,” he added.

The JCPOA required Iran to scale back some of its nuclear activities in return for the lifting of cruel sanctions imposed on the country, especially by the United States.

However, US President Donald Trump pulled Washington out of the UNSC-endorsed agreement in May 2018, imposing severe economic sanctions against Tehran while Iran was adhering to its commitments under the deal and even continued to do so for a year after the US withdrawal.

Tehran started to reduce its commitments under the JCPOA in a series of pre-announced and clear steps after witnessing the other parties' failure to secure its interests under the agreement.

Iran says committed to cooperating with IAEA based on safeguards obligations

Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi says Tehran “remains committed” to cooperating with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

After a meeting with Rafael Grossi, the IAEA chief, at the IAEA headquarters in Vienna in March, Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi said Tehran “remains committed” to cooperating with the agency.

“While safeguarding its national security and interests, Iran remains committed to cooperating with the IAEA within the framework of the agency’s Safeguards obligations,” Gharibabadi said.

Kamalvandi said a nation with a history of thousands of years cannot be addressed with force, adding that Iran has endured numerous pressures throughout history and has always been able to cope with them.

“We have no doubt that we will emerge victorious and proud from the current pressures as well.”

Kamalvandi elaborated on Iran’s achievements in nuclear technology, including in reactor and power plant construction, and improved relations with countries like China and Russia.

Iran has also increased its scientific and technological engagement with different countries and the IAEA to prove its legitimacy, he said.

The AEOI spokesman criticized “negative propaganda” against Iran’s nuclear industry and allegations against its peaceful nuclear activities “while Iran is subject to the most extensive inspections and maintains a transparent program.”

He placed a premium on thwarting the enemies’ measures to spread propaganda against Iran’s nuclear industry.

Kamalvandi also pointed to the successful holding of the three-day International Conference on Nuclear Science and Technology (ICNST2024) in the Iranian city of Isfahan in May 2024, and said Iran’s nuclear advancements well impressed the UN nuclear agency’s officials attending the event.

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