Salehi referred to the activities of the outgoing government, saying, “I would like to mention the 11th and 12th governments and the tireless efforts of President Rouhani and his entourage in the government.”

He stated that he is obliged to say that during Rouhani’s presidency, it is fair to say that the president himself, above others in the government, used his prudence and hope as a shield against conspiracies hatched against the country and the revolution.

The nuclear chief emphasized, “It can be boldly said that no government in the Islamic Republic of Iran has faced such a volume of problems and difficulties.”

Salehi stated that natural disasters such as floods, earthquakes, and droughts on the one hand and the implementation of the policy of maximum and oppressive pressure and the spread of the infamous Coronavirus, on the other hand, created a bitter and poisonous concoction.

The “maximum pressure” refers to Trump’s strategy against Iran.

“Hostility and enmity from foreign foes and the emergence of some political immoralities in the domestic arena added to the existing conditions,” the nuclear chief said.

He highlighted that despite all shortcomings and restrictions created on the path of the government, thanks to the grace of God and the widespread support of the government, the necessary conditions were provided to achieve two significant victories.

The head of the Atomic Energy Organization added, “First, the advancement of nuclear talks in the 11th government, which was made possible through the guidance and support of the Leader and the activities of Rouhani, provided an opportunity to thwart the conspiracy of Iran’s ill-wishers, and our stubborn enemies failed to achieve their goals.”

Salehi added, “Secondly, after the defeat of the previous U.S. administration (in the elections) and the withdrawal of this country from the Barjam agreement (JCPOA), many international observers were waiting for the balance of the government to be upset and our government officials to be caught in a whirlpool of incurable systems.”

He said that everyone must testify that this government, despite enduring the wounds caused by the relentless onslaught of “poisonous arrows” on the battlefield, did not give up and continued its path with determination through trust, perseverance, and popular support.

The nuclear chief said that as one of the oldest people involved in the peaceful nuclear program of Iran, he could testify that in the light of the measures taken by the Islamic Republic and due to the smart moves of the government in the field of nuclear diplomacy, the current situation is very different to 2013.

He emphasized, “Today, the country’s nuclear industry is stepping on the path of growth and excellence with increasing authority and strength, while our enemies were constantly using propaganda tools to insist on their baseless claim that in this government, the power and capacity of the program of Iran’s nuclear program is on the verge of degeneration and destruction.”

After adopting the strategic law to lift sanctions and protect the interests of the Iranian people in the parliament, this fact became apparent to everyone that the foundations and pillars of this national industry were safe from any harm, said Salehi, a nuclear physicist.

The head of the Atomic Energy Organization said, “In addition, I would like to point out that friends did not understand the difficult situation of this government and contrary to the repeated recommendations of the Leader of the Revolution on the need for Islamic unity and national solidarity, they crossed the boundaries of compassionate criticism and fair criticism.”

“If we all followed the rules of political game and preferred national interests over the group and factional interests, Iran would have achieved more,” he said.

He pointed out that in the end he considers it necessary to thank the president for his efforts to protect the interests of the great nation of Iran.

“Since the beginning of the 1380s (2001s), I played the role of the representative of the Islamic Republic of Iran in the International Atomic Energy Agency, and I have increasingly encountered Mr. Rouhani’s abilities and characteristics. A deep understanding of political developments on the world stage attracted my attention,” he said of the outgoing president.

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“Slight damage to the roof of one of the sheds, which is being repaired and replaced,” Rabiei stated.

He added the aerial photo published by some media outlets of the damage to the site is in fact an image that is being taken after the roof was removed for repair, and “the interpretations made in the media are not accurate.”

The spokesman went on to say that Iran has proven that after each sabotage act, its capabilities have been increasing.

Officials stated on June 23 that due to precautions, the parcel bomb was intercepted before it caused any damage to the building.

In April 2021, a sabotage attack took place in part of the power grid of the Ahmadi Roshan nuclear enrichment facility in Natanz. Israel was blamed as the chief culprit for the act.

It was after this sabotage act that Iran decided to increase the level of its nuclear enrichment to more than 60 percent.

“No offer of serving in coming administration been submitted to ministers”

Also in response to the question whether a proposal has been received from the current cabinet members to hold a post in the future government of Ebrahim Raisi, the spokesman stated, “So far, no proposal has been received or been handed from the official channels of the government, and if there are any such proposals, they have been presented personally to the ministers and maybe some managers, of which I am unaware.”

He added that if the president-elect consults with the government as a legal entity, the government is obliged to present its views in a fraternal and compassionate manner, “but so far the government has not entered the process and does not intend to.”

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Ambassador Kazem Gharibabadi said Rafael Grossi’s assessment that a lack of progress in cooperation between Iran and the IAEA seriously affects the Agency’s ability to make sure that Iran’s nuclear program is exclusively peaceful was not credible.

In his opening statement to the quarterly session of the IAEA Board of Governors, Grossi claimed that technical discussions between the IAEA and Iran have not yielded the expected results, and the lack of progress in clarifying the Agency’s questions concerning the correctness and completeness of Iran’s safeguards declarations seriously affects the ability of the IAEA to provide assurance of the peaceful nature of Iran’s nuclear program.

“Iran has provided no new information in relation to one location, has not answered any of the Agency’s questions nor provided any information in relation to two other locations, and provided a written statement on a fourth location without any substantiating documentation,” Grossi said, according to a statement issued by the IAEA.

The statement added, “Since February, verification and monitoring activities have been affected as a result of Iran’s decision to stop the implementation of its nuclear-related commitments under the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) and the Additional Protocol, which gives broader access to IAEA inspectors throughout a country.”

Grossi also claimed that some sensitive nuclear materials were found in locations not declared to the IAEA and called on Iran to provide answers in that regard.

“I reiterate the requirement for Iran to clarify and resolve these issues without further delay by providing information, documentation and answers to the Agency’s questions.”

Gharibabadi said Grossi’s remarks were another sign that the IAEA has adopted a biased approach against Iran.

“@rafaelmgrossi positions show the biased approach of the Secretariat vis-à-vis its interactions with Iran, which ignores the level of cooperation and engagement. This approach could turn into an obstacle for future good-will interactions between the two sides,” he warned on Twitter.

Gharibabadi added, “The Agency report lacks triple C: it’s not ‘consistent’ in relations with the background of cooperation between two sides; it’s not ‘credible’ since is not based on reliable sources; it’s not ‘convincing’ since does not contain all aspects of the cooperation and progress made.”

He continued, “Constructive engagement requires positive environment, avoiding expressing any pre-judgment and artificial concerns, as well as unnecessary overstatement of a few trivial issues. The Agency shouldn’t act as if it’s supporting the political agenda of some against the others.”

The Iranian diplomat called on the IAEA to avoid politicization and take a clear position on the nuclear threat posed by Israel.

“The Agency has to distance itself from any political agenda and must take a clear stand on the Israeli regime’s nuclear threat and unacceptability of it remaining outside the NPT and its continuing defiance to place all its nuclear activities and facilities under safeguards,” Gharibabadi continued.

Diplomatic tensions have escalated between Iran and the IAEA in recent weeks as the Agency refused the level of cooperation Iran provided.

Recently Iran sent a letter to the IAEA announcing the expiration of a February deal between the IAEA and Iran. The letter was sent after the Agency released a quarterly report on Iran in which it accused Iran of failing to explain traces of uranium found at several allegedly undeclared sites.

Gharibabadi, who delivered the letter to the IAEA, had provided details about the February deal, which contained details about Iran’s decision to announce the expiration of that deal.

The February deal was signed between director of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI)Ali Akbar Salehi and IAEA chief Grossi in Tehran.

“We delivered this letter to the Director-General of the Agency yesterday, which addresses two issues. One [aspect of the letter] is about a joint agreement we had with the Agency to record data from some of the Agency’s surveillance cameras for three months without providing the data to the Agency, and if we reach an agreement on nuclear issues and the outcome as well as the lifting of sanctions after three months, then we will provide information to the Agency,” he told the state TV.

According to Gharibabadi, safeguards issues constitute another aspect of the letter. “The letter explicitly states that Iran has all kinds of interactions and cooperation with the IAEA and that we are still ready to work with the IAEA to resolve a number of safeguards issues, but the IAEA must work with a neutral and non-political approach to conclude these issues as soon as possible,” he noted.

Underlining that the AEOI-IAEA deal expired on May 24, the Iranian diplomat said, “There were contacts and requests from the Agency and the countries that are negotiating with us in the framework of the JCPOA talks to extend this understanding for another period. This issue was examined internally and the conclusion was that this understanding could not be legally extended, but the Islamic Republic of Iran decided to continue recording data for another month in its own good faith and as an independent decision and not a legal decision.”

He added, “What happens next month and what we do with this data is an independent sovereign decision that takes into account a number of factors, including the Agency’s approach and technical approaches, especially in negotiations with us on safeguards as well as political negotiations in the field of the JCPOA.”

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“Natanz nuclear facilities will move forward with utmost speed towards the set targets, and if deemed necessary, Iranian scientists will show the world again to witness Iran’s scientific might in nuclear technology,” it added.

“Determination of Iranian scientists remains intact,” AEOI stressed.

The spokesman for the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI) Behrouz Kamalvandi said on Sunday that an incident took place in a part of the electricity distribution network of Shahid Ahmadi Roshan facility in Natanz.

Following the incident, AEOI Chief Ali-Akbar Salehi slammed the “act of sabotage”, noting that the international community, as well as the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), must deal with such “nuclear terrorism” that targets Iran’s facilities.

Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister for Political Affairs Seyed Abbas Araghchi who is in Vienna to participate in a new round of talks with the P4+1 and the EU representative within the framework of the JCPOA Joint Commission announced the start of 60% enrichment on Tuesday afternoon.

Following the announcement of the start of 60% enrichment in Natanz, Iran’s permanent representative to Vienna-based international organizations Kazem Gharibabadi said that the country expects to accumulate the product next week.

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani also said that the 60% enrichment and launch of IR6 are a response to wickedness in Natanz.

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Ali Akbar Salehi’s remarks came hours after the AEOI spokesman said on Sunday that an incident took place at the electricity distribution network of Shahid Mostafa Ahmadi Roshan nuclear facility in Natanz, which is a uranium enrichment center located in the city of the same name in Iran’s central province of Isfahan.

“The Islamic Republic of Iran, while condemning this despicable act, underlines the need for the international community and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to address this nuclear terrorism and reserves the right to take action against masterminds, perpetrators and conspirators of this [terrorist] act,” Salehi said.

He added that the Islamic Republic will seriously pursue the development of its nuclear technology, on the one hand, and make efforts to remove the oppressive U.S. sanctions, on the other hand, so that those who ordered the terrorist act would not reach their goals.

According to the AEOI chief, the action that took place at the Natanz enrichment facility shows the failure of those, who oppose the country’s industrial and political advances, in preventing Iran’s remarkable progress in its nuclear program and obstructing successful talks aimed at removing the oppressive sanctions.

Behrouz Kamalvandi, the spokesman for the AEOI, announced the incident earlier in the day, saying it did not cause any pollution or human fatalities.

Kamalvandi added that the cause of the incident is under investigation and that further information will be announced later.

Israel’s public radio quoted unidentified intelligence sources on Sunday as saying that Israel’s Mossad spy agency carried out a cyber attack against Iran’s Natanz nuclear facility, Reuters reported.

Natanz facility is among the sites being monitored by the IAEA under a 2015 landmark nuclear deal, officially known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), between Iran and a group of world powers.

On July 2, 2020, an explosion was reported in a shed under construction at the Natanz complex, but it caused no casualties and failed to stop enrichment work at the facility.

At the time, Kamalvandi described the incident as “an act of sabotage.”

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Iran marked National Nuclear Technology Day on Saturday during which the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI) unveiled a number of new progresses in nuclear industry. President Hassan Rouhani inspected a number of new machineries and equipment used in nuclear industry.

“A large part of 133 achievements that the president talked about today is about nuclear fuel. More than 50% of nuclear achievements relates to agriculture, among other fields,” Salehi said.

He clarified with an example about nuclear radiation in agriculture, saying, “It can be referred to the rice that has recently been provided to farmers. This rice has high yield and acceptable resistance to drought. Or we can name the radiation systems as other types of nuclear achievements related to agriculture. Radiation systems that can be used to sterilize and extend the life of agricultural products. Radiation can prevent dates from rotting for several months.”

He also pointed to the existence of a special centrifuge in the blood bank of the health sector, saying, “This centrifuge was previously supposed to be imported from Germany, but after passing many tests, our centrifuge managed to enter the country’s blood bank.”

Salehi described centrifuges as one of the requirements for making the COVID-19 vaccine, and the Atomic Energy Organization, through one of its companies, was able to provide the desired centrifuge for the Barekat Pharmaceutical Company.

Barekat Pharmaceutical Company is working on COVID-19 vaccine. Its vaccines are going to be administered by mid-June.

Salehi, a nuclear physicist, also pointed to the production of titanium used in medical science for the first time in the country.

“In the field of radiopharmaceuticals, good accomplishments have been achieved so that the number of these radiopharmaceuticals is increasing every year. If we have to import it from abroad, we have to pay 15,000 Euros for each dose. This radiopharmaceutical has had positive responses in the treatment of prostate.”

He also pointed out that the Tetra project is underway in Iran.

“In this project, about 60 million Euros worth of equipment has been purchased for the production of radiopharmaceuticals. The production of these radiopharmaceuticals is done as standard or GMP. The project building is as big as 37,000 meters, which is being completed, and the first phase of this project will probably be launched in September. This project is unique in West Asia. Iran currently exports radiopharmaceuticals to many countries, including India, Pakistan, Iraq and Syria, and some European countries.”

He went on to say after the completion of the Tetra project in September, Iran will be the “largest exporter of radiopharmaceuticals in the world.”

The nuclear chief said that “ion therapy” is the latest method for treating a large number of cancers.

“We are the first in West Asia,” he said.

The AEOI chief elaborated on the progresses Iran has made throughout the years in nuclear science industry, stating, “We currently have software with which we design centrifuges of about 500,000 lines. We now have the ability to design centrifuges with different capacities, but this does not mean that these designs will work immediately. It will take about 15 years, because in Europe there is a French company responsible for setting up and operating centrifuges, and they do that in 10 years of time.”

The nuclear chief went on to discuss the latest accomplishments in the field of centrifuges.

“To date, we have about 15 types of centrifuges; IRS, IR9, IR8. As new centrifuges, IR5 and IR6 are among them. The complete IR6 chain was launched today (Saturday), while it should have been launched in the next eight years, but now the chain is on the verge of industrialization, although according to the law passed by the parliament, we have to launch 1000 IR6 centrifuges and install them within a year,” he said.

Salehi added, “In this regard, 164 centrifuges were launched and unveiled today, two waterfalls will be launched in Fordow soon, and IR6 waterfalls will be launched in Natanz.”

On the explosion of centrifuge assembly hall 10 months ago which the AEOI said was a sabotage act, Salehi said, “We did not stop and today we were able to temporarily set up a replacement hall for the exploded hall. We are currently working day and night to build all of our assembly halls in the heart of the mountains around Natanz ourselves. We hope that next year, these halls in the heart of the mountain will be ready and the facilities will be moved there.”

Iran’s next calendar year will start on March 21, 2022.

On 2 July 2020, an explosion hit a centrifuge assembly facility in the Natanz nuclear facility. Israel is being seen as the main suspect for the vicious act.

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TEHRAN (Iran News) – Iran starts injecting gas into next generation centrifuges. Iran has officially started injecting gas into next-generation centrifuges at Natanz Nuclear Facility, in a ceremony attended by President Hassan Rouhani through videoconference.

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Abolfazl Amoui said, “In order to monitor the implementation of the law on lifting sanctions, 12 members of the Majlis, mainly from the National Security and Energy Committees, visited four nuclear sites in Isfahan, Natanz, Khondab and Fordow.”

The visits to the nuclear sites took place in line with inspecting the implementation of a parliamentary ratification late last year. The ratification, called Strategic Action Plan for Lifting Sanctions and Protect the rights of the Iranian Nation, obliges the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI) to take number of steps, including installing and increasing more advanced centrifuges, increasing the purity of nuclear fuel to 20 percent, etc.

Amoui said the representatives visited the production units of rods and fuel plates at the Isfahan site. “Also, at the Isfahan site, the procedure of completing the metal uranium factory was observed.”

He said, “Article 4 of the law on Strategic Action for Lifting Sanctions gives five months to complete this factory.”

Amoui, a representative from Tehran, added, “During a visit to the Shahid Ahmadi Roshan complex in Natanz, it was observed that in implementation of Article 3 of the Law on Strategic Action for Lifting Sanctions, 1000 IR2m centrifuges have recently been installed. Also, a chain of 164 sixth generation centrifuges has been installed in the Natanz site within the legal three-month period.”

The spokesman went on to say, “The hard-working experts of our Atomic Energy Organization in the Natanz site, in order to increase the enriched uranium reserves required by the country, have used 2 chains of IR4 centrifuges in the Natanz site to produce uranium.”

“During our visit to the Fordow site, we observed that the process of producing 20 percent enriched uranium, according to Article 1 of the law, is carefully followed in 6 chains of the first generation of IR1 centrifuges,” he explained.

Announcing that the representatives sitting on the National Security and Energy Committees also visited the process of optimizing the Arak reactor, Amoui said, “Completing the optimization of this reactor, which was requested by the representatives in Article 5 of the law, is a strategic action and is progressing well.”

He continued, “In the field monitoring of these four nuclear sites, it was clear that our country’s nuclear industry is growing and dynamic, and young Iranian scientists are advancing Iran’s science and technology with their great efforts. The Atomic Energy Organization is also taking vital steps in implementing the law on the Strategic Action for Lifting Sanctions.”

The spokesman added, “The members of the National Security and Energy Committees will hold meetings with the managers of the Atomic Energy Organization in Tehran to continuously monitor the implementation of the law and follow up on other legal duties and will present a detailed report of the actions to the Majlis.”

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IRAN NEWS NATIONAL DESK

TEHRAN – Majlis lawmakers have approved the generalities of a draft bill aimed at tackling sanctions imposed on the country and preventing international inspectors from accessing the country’s nuclear facilities.

During an open parliamentary session on Tuesday, 251 out of 260 lawmakers present voted ‘yes’ to the outlines of the draft bill, which, if adopted, will require the Iranian administration to suspend more commitments under a 2015 multilateral nuclear deal.

The details of the bill will be reviewed in a second reading.

The bill instructs the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI) to produce at least 120 kilograms of 20%-enriched uranium annually and stockpile it in the country and use it for peaceful purposes as needed.

After the bill is signed into law, the government also has a duty to meet, fully and without delay, domestic industries’ need for uranium enriched up to a purity level of 20 percent and above for peaceful purposes.

Under the bill, the government would also be obliged to raise the country’s uranium enrichment and production to realize the enrichment capacity of 190 thousand separative work units (SWU).

The bill also requires the government to make use of advanced centrifuges, including IR6 and IR2M types.

The government will also be duty-bound to halt inspections of its nuclear sites which are beyond the Additional Protocol.

The double-urgency of the motion had already been approved on parliament floor. The move followed the assassination of eminent Iranian nuclear and defense scientist, Mohsen Fakhrizadeh.

Lawmakers adopted the motion to tackle anti-Iran sanctions following the assassination of prominent Iranian nuclear and defence scientist Mohsen Fakhrizadeh.

“The country’s nuclear program must proceed according to the needs of our country. When the plan is approved, we expect that it (the nuclear program) will be strengthened and developed, and that this trend will accelerate,” he added.

Speaking during Tuesday’s session, Abolfazl Amooei, the spokesman of the Iranian Parliament’s National Security and Foreign Policy Committee, said the plan is meant to open the locks placed on the country’s nuclear program and advance the goals of nuclear martyrs like Mohsen Fakhrizadeh, who was assassinated by suspected Israel-tied terrorists on Friday.

The plan, Amooei said, also seeks to make imposing sanctions against the Iranian people a “costly” measure for Western countries.

“The country’s nuclear program must proceed according to the needs of our country. When the plan is approved, we expect that it (the nuclear program) will be strengthened and developed, and that this trend will accelerate,” he added.

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