TEHRAN (Iran News)  Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi held a meeting with Rafael Grossi, Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency, on the sidelines of the 80th session of the UN General Assembly in New York on Monday.

In the meeting, which was held at the Iranian mission residence in the United Nations, Araghchi and Grossi reveiwed the latest status of Iran’s interactions with the Agency.

Majid Takht-e-Ravanchi, Deputy Foreign Minister for Political Affairs, and Kazem Gharibabadi, Deputy Foreign Minister for Legal and International Affairs, were also taking part in the meeting.

Referring to Iran’s goodwill and responsible approach regarding the nuclear issue, the Iranian Foreign Minister considered any progress in this field to be dependent on the other parties shouldering responsibility and stopping their excessive demands and abusing the Security Council to exert pressure on Iran.

The IAEA Director General, for his part, praised Iran’s positive approach in interacting with the Agency, especially in terms of the Cairo agreement recently signed between the two sides, stressing the necessity of all relevant parties’ efforts to use diplomatic potential to prevent the escalation of tension.

Majid Takht-e-Ravanchi, Deputy Foreign Minister for Political Affairs, and Kazem Gharibabadi, Deputy Foreign Minister for Legal and International Affairs, were also taking part in the meeting.

Referring to Iran’s goodwill and responsible approach regarding the nuclear issue, the Iranian Foreign Minister considered any progress in this field to be dependent on the other parties shouldering responsibility and stopping their excessive demands and abusing the Security Council to exert pressure on Iran.

The IAEA Director General, for his part, praised Iran’s positive approach in interacting with the Agency, especially in terms of the Cairo agreement recently signed between the two sides, stressing the necessity of all relevant parties’ efforts to use diplomatic potential to prevent the escalation of tension.

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“We are definitely thinking about an agreement and we are interested in its conclusion in the near future. Nevertheless, we will definitely not act emotionally and that the finalization of the accord hinges upon a political decision by the United States,” Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Nasser Kan’ani said at a press briefing in the capital Tehran on Monday.

“Iran has not left the negotiating table,” he stressed, adding, “The process of negotiations in [Vienna] lasted for several months, and entered a new phase in [the Qatari capital city of] Doha following a respite. In spite of comments that US authorities occasionally make regarding the negotiation process and the psychological pressures as well as its unilateral demands from Iran to quickly make a decision and warnings that time is running out, Iran will neither act emotionally nor hastily in this regard and will not sacrifice the interests of the country and the nation.”

Kan’ani went on to elaborate on the ongoing measures taken to revive the nuclear deal between world powers and Iran, officially known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), and pointed to efforts made by the foreign ministers of regional countries, including Oman, Qatar, and Iraq, as well as European states like Italy and France to bridge the differing viewpoints.

The senior Iranian diplomat reiterated that the Islamic Republic is serious about reaching a good, durable and strong agreement.

“We have demonstrated a great deal of flexibility. The Islamic Republic of Iran has so far presented various constructive initiatives; and we believe that we would be close to an agreement if the US, as the main [opposite] side in determining the process of negotiations, acts constructively and with good faith like Iran,” Kan’ani remarked.

“Getting either close to or far away from the agreement depends on the political decision of the US government,” the spokesman for the Iranian Foreign Ministry said.

Kan’ani also reacted to the recent remarks by the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Rafael Grossi about Iran’s civilian nuclear activities.

“The Islamic Republic of Iran is a member of the International Atomic Energy Agency and the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), and for many years, especially during recent years, has allowed the watchdog’s inspectors all out of an interactive and constructive stance to visit facilities in question several times,” he said.

“Most of the missions of the IAEA’s inspectors are related to Iran’s nuclear sites. This interactive and voluntary approach was meant to resolve the sticking point that previously existed and we thought could impede the achievement of an agreement. Unfortunately, Iran’s constructive actions have not been met with a constructive and mutual response on the part of the IAEA and its director general,” Kan’ani said.

“Unfortunately, Mr. Grossi has time and again taken an unprofessional and unfair approach vis-à-vis Iran’s nuclear program, especially in recent months. His views are not helpful and constructive. He is interested in raising an issue about Iran’s nuclear issues now and then. We believe that the IAEA director general should adopt a constructive and interactive approach in response to Iran’s constructive cooperation with the agency. We do not view Grossi’s remarks as technical and professional and we advise him to observe the principle of neutrality and fairness and to avoid politically-motivated statements,” he stated.

Grossi told Spain’s El Pais newspaper in an interview published on Friday that Iran’s nuclear program is “galloping ahead” and the IAEA has very limited visibility on what is happening.

Elsewhere in his remarks, Kan’ani noted that there has been no change in the Islamic Republic’s practical and political stance on the Ukraine conflict.

He categorically dismissed recent Western media allegations in the wake of the official visit of Russian President Vladimir Putin to Tehran, saying, “The Islamic Republic of Iran is opposed to military options against regional countries.”

“Iran believes that disputes and differences should be resolved through a political solution and that there is no change in Tehran’s political position toward Ukraine.

“We instead believe in the political solution, and we are not standing by one side to oppose the other,” Kan’ani underscored.

FM: Iran supports any diplomatic effort to settle Ukraine conflict, ready to mediate

Ukraine has been at war with Russia since President Vladimir Putin declared a military operation in the neighboring country in late February, following Kiev’s failure to implement the terms of the Minsk agreements and Moscow’s recognition of the breakaway regions of Donetsk and Luhansk.

The Iranian foreign ministry spokesperson also pointed to the talks between Iran and Saudi Arabia, saying, “Five rounds of negotiations were held between Iran and Saudi Arabia, which were hosted by the Iraqi government in Baghdad that had very good and encouraging results.”

“After the Jeddah summit, Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein in a phone call briefed Foreign Minister Amirabdollahian on the summit. During the phone call, Mr. Hussein said Mohammed bin Salman, the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia, on the sidelines of the meetings in Jeddah expressed readiness that official and public talks between Iran and Saudi Arabia will be held in the next round. This is a positive sign. We believe that due to the positive will of the parties, it is possible to hold the next meeting at the official and political level in Baghdad and take a step in the direction of improving and resuming the relations between the two countries,” Kan’ani added.

The FM spokesperson also spoke about recent developments in Sri Lanka, saying, “We have good and friendly relations with Sri Lanka and we follow the developments with concern and sensitivity. Fortunately, we now witness the return of stability in this country. We welcome the positive trend of the developments and congratulate the new Sri Lankan president elected by the parliament.”

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Iran had vetoed the International Atomic Energy Agency’s request to have “full” access to the footages and memory cards of the nuclear sites. In December 2020, the Iranian parliament passed the generalities of a bill titled “Strategic Action to Lift Sanctions.”

The bill requires the government to raise uranium enrichment levels to 20% and install advanced centrifuges.

According to the 9-article bill, the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI) will be required to produce and store at least 120 kilograms of enriched uranium with 20 percent purity at the Fordow nuclear facility every year, and to fulfil the country’s peaceful industrial demands with uranium enriched above 20%.

The bill entails uranium enrichment activities with at least 1,000 IR-2M centrifuge machines at the Natanz nuclear plant within three months after the ratification of the law, and compels the AEOI to launch uranium enrichment as well as research and development activities with at least 164 IR-6 centrifuges and increase the number of centrifuge machines to 1,000 within a year after the ratification of the bill.

The bill also requires the government to suspend the voluntary implementation of the Additional Protocol to the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) three months after the ratification of it if the parties to the nuclear deal between Iran and world powers, officially known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), failed to uphold their obligations under the agreement.

During his trip, Grossi met with Mohammad Eslami, Iran’s nuclear chief. The two had a “constructive” discussion, according to Eslami.

“Mr. Rafael Grossi came to Tehran at the invitation of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran and we had good and constructive talks with him,” Mohammad Eslami told reporters in a joint press conference with Grossi on Sunday.

Eslami also said he will hold talks with Grossi on the sidelines of the IAEA’s Board Governors meeting which will start in Vienna from Monday.

“We decided to participate in the next meeting and continue our talks on the sidelines of the meeting,” Iran’s nuclear chief stated.

What is now clear is that the Board of Governors must be cautious over what they issue. The IAEA, before Grossi’s leadership, mostly focused on the technical aspects of Iran’s nuclear file. Since Grossi took office, the UN nuclear watchdog has been trying to politicize the case, which has nothing to do with the IAEA obligations.

The nuclear file has two separate aspects. The Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action and the negotiations to revive the internationally agreed deal; and the technical aspects with respect to Non-Proliferation Treaty. The IAEA must know its limits and stick to the very mission it was founded for.

As for the JCPOA revival negotiations, Iran had previously stated that it has no problem returning to the negotiations, as long as the other side shows “determination and seriousness” and negotiate with goodwill.

According to the joint statement issued by the AEOI and the IAEA, “the parties recalled and reaffirmed the spirit of cooperation and mutual trust and its continuation and emphasized the necessity of addressing the relevant issues in a constructive atmosphere and exclusively in a technical manner.

In the framework of the existing cooperation, the two sides decided to maintain their mutual interactions and meetings at relevant levels. To this end, the Vice-President and the Head of AEOI will meet the IAEA Director General at the sidelines of the upcoming General Conference, and the IAEA Director General will also visit Tehran in the near future to hold high level consultations with the Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran with the aim of enhancing cooperation between Iran and the IAEA in different fields and discussing current issues of mutual interest.

IAEA’s inspectors are permitted to service the identified equipment and replace their storage media which will be kept under the joint IAEA and AEOI seals in the Islamic Republic of Iran. The way and the timing are agreed by the two sides.”

The statement clearly indicates that Iran has not set a specific time for the IAEA’s request to replace the storage memory cards. Iran insists on keeping the IAEA out of the political aspects of the nuclear file. It is time for Board of Governors to keep things technical.

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The agenda of the IAEA chief’s travel was not clear, but the trip comes after President Ebrahim Raisi warned the United Nations’ nuclear watchdog against the consequences of its “unconstructive” attitude towards Iran.

“The agency’s unconstructive attitude will be disruptive of the negotiation course,” Raisi said, speaking to European Council chief Charles Michel European Council chief Charles Michel on the phone on Wednesday.

“Naturally, it defies logic to expect Iran to offer a constructive reaction to such attitude,” the Iranian president added.

He, meanwhile, said that “instances of Iran’s serious cooperation with the agency serve as shining examples of its will to observe transparency in its nuclear activities.”

On Thursday and in a phone call with United Nations Secretary-General, the Iranian Foreign Minister said that the negotiating parties should come to Vienna with a realistic understanding and pay serious attention to the Iranians’ rights.

United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres described Iran as a very influential country among the members of the United Nations, saying that he expects close cooperation with the Iranian president and foreign minister.

Guterres called the UN a supporter of agreements and dialogue as a mainstay, stressing the need for the resumption of the nuclear talks in Vienna.

While the Zionists and some Western countries seemed to pressure the IAEA to take a firm stand against the Islamic Republic by adopting a resolution, now it is reported the IAEA does not intend to do so.

By the way, the Iranian ambassador to international organizations in Vienna had warned the UN nuclear agency about taking any counterproductive measure against Iran during the forthcoming meeting of its Board of Governors, saying that such a measure would “disrupt” future talks on the revival of Iran’s nuclear deal with world powers.

Unfortunately the UN body has turned into a political tool in hands of the big powers, rather than a being a technical one, to put pressure on the countries and in the past it has taken such political stand against Iran’s dossier by referring it to the UN Security Council while Iran has always been committed to the Safeguard Agreement commitment even by accepting voluntarily the IAEA’s further inspections.

Now the game has changed and the Islamic Republic of Iran is not ready to accept any political action from the board and this stand under a revolutionary and determined government has forced the IAEA to avoid politicizing Iran’s nuclear issue or else it waits for Iran’s reaction.

An informed source told Iran’s Press TV that there would be no change in the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)’s lack of access to its camera footage at Iran’s nuclear sites during IAEA chief Rafael Grossi’s visit to Tehran.

“During Grossi’s visit to Tehran, there will be no change in the IAEA’s access to the data at [Iran’s] nuclear facilities, and the agency will still have no access to the surveillance cameras’ footage,” the source said.

The source explained that Grossi’s visit has nothing to do with the restrictions imposed by Iran on the IAEA concerning its access to the camera footage at Iran’s nuclear facilities. Rejecting claims made by certain Western media outlets, in particular The Wall Street Journal, the source made it clear that there is no possibility of reconsidering the IAEA’s lack of access to its surveillance cameras’ footage.

Earlier on Saturday, The Wall Street Journal claimed in a report that Grossi’s visit comes after an understanding between Iran and the IAEA, negotiated over last couple of days under watch of the P5+1.

The report, citing sources, claimed that Iran had agreed to give the IAEA access to re-set the monitoring equipment at nuclear-related sites in the country.

Meanwhile Iran’s Nour News agency, affiliated to the country’s Supreme National Security the (SNSC), refuted Western media outlets’ speculations, a report says the upcoming meeting of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)’s Board of Governors is not going to adopt any anti-Iranian resolutions.

“Basically, there are no anti-Iran resolutions on the agenda of the upcoming meeting of the agency’s Board of Governors,” the report said, citing “the news [that have been] relayed” to the news agency.

History has shown that whenever a country is determined and united and stands against the bully of the West, the West has no way but to retreat its bully, and Iran will not retreat from its rights under political pretexts and the world should come to terms with this fact that Iran is not supposed to turn its back to its rights while the West does not observe its obligations.

The Western countries and especially the U.S. should come to their sense that the Islamic Republic of Iran will no longer accept one-way agreement and obligation, and it will not be ready to accept giving more voluntary concessions to the IAEA inspectors without seeing any benefit.

Now the ball is on IAEA’s court to make a technical decision or politicize it to please the Western countries for piling the pressure on the Islamic Republic of Iran to ignore its rights in the JCPOA but the UN body should know this fact that enough is enough and Iran will never accept any biased and one-sided decision and it is time for the IAEA and the West to take a realistic approach regarding Iran or watching the Islamic Republic of Iran’s strong determination for uranium enrichment which is its due right.

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“I am open to working with the next president of Iran and to hear Iran’s views,” Grossi told PassBlue in an interview published on Sunday.

Raisi was elected Iran’s new president on June 18. His administration will start work in mid-August.

Grossi said, “I want to sit down with the new leadership and build trust and a relationship as soon as we can.”

Elsewhere in his remarks, the IAEA chief said, “Iran is a sovereign nation, but from my perspective I cannot see any advantage for them to sever ties with the IAEA or pursue a policy of confrontation with the IAEA.”

Iran has been limiting nuclear inspections by the IAEA in reaction to the abandonment of the 2015 nuclear deal by the U.S. according to which Tehran had agreed to put limits on its nuclear activities in exchange for termination of economic and financial sanctions.

Iran’s move to gradually remove ban on its nuclear program started in May 2019, one year after former U.S. President Donald Trump quit the nuclear deal – officially called the JCPOA – and returned the previous sanctions and introduced new ones under different labels.

Trump even introduced a total ban on Iran’s oil export, the country’s main source of income, under his “maximum pressure” campaign against the Islamic Republic.

The purpose behind Trump and his hawkish team was to strangulate the Iranian economy. The Trump administration introduced these crippling sanctions in violation of UN Security Council Resolution 2231 that has endorsed the JCPOA.

Late last year the Iranian parliament approved a legislation tasking the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI) to accelerate nuclear activities, including increasing the purity of nuclear fuel, in response to the illegal sanctions against Iran. It has been stated in the legislation if the illegal sanctions against Iran are lifted in a verifiable way, Iran will reverse its decisions.

The new U.S. administration in the U.S. under the leadership of Joe Biden has expressed willingness to rejoin the multilateral nuclear pact.  The remaining parties to the JCPOA – Iran, Russia, China, Germany, Britain, and France – with an indirect participation of the U.S. have started talks in Vienna since early April with the aim of reviving the JCPOA.  All the parties have expressed optimism over the restoration of the agreement.

The sixth round of the nuclear deal talks in Vienna ended on Sunday. The negotiators are returning to the capitals for political decisions by senior officials.

Iran’s top nuclear negotiator Abbas Araqchi issued a statement on Sunday saying progress made in this round of negotiations, especially regarding the draft of negotiation texts. He said the remaining important issues require serious decisions in the capitals, especially in the negotiating countries. Araqchi, Iran’s deputy foreign minister for political affairs, urged the negotiating parties to make the necessary decisions with realism, seriousness and strong will to maintain and revive the JCPOA.

While stating that the sides are closer to an agreement than ever before, Araqchi expressed hope that an agreement could be reached in the next round of talks, although it could not be guaranteed.

On Monday, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh also looked optimistic about the next round of nuclear talks, saying it may be the last one.

“We have agreed on a clear text on all issues and what has remained entails ‘political decisions’ by all sides. If these political decisions are taken, one can be hopeful that we are in the last round of talks,” Khatibzadeh told a regular news briefing.

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani looks mor optimistic about the revitalization of the nuclear deal, claiming “I am sure” that the sanctions “will be lifted soon”.

Rouhani made the remarks while talking about the launch of free trade zones.

It is not yet clear when the next round of talks will begin.

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The head of the IAEA on Monday said it is getting increasingly harder to further extend a deal that the agency originally clinched with Iran in February to monitor the country’s peaceful nuclear activities, which expires on June 24 after its first extension.

Rafael Grossi made the remarks in a press conference at the agency’s headquarters in Vienna on Monday.

On May 24, Iran and the IAEA agreed to extend by one month the agreement they had clinched for the UN nuclear agency to continue inspection of the country’s nuclear sites while the ongoing talks in Vienna on the revival of the landmark nuclear deal between Tehran and world powers continue.

This came after Iran halted its voluntary implementation of the Additional Protocol to the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) that allowed the IAEA to carry short-notice inspections at its nuclear sites.

In addition to the deal’s extension, Iran also agreed not to erase information collected so far by agency equipment in the country.

“I think it’s becoming increasingly difficult,” Grossi said in his Monday interview when asked how likely it is that the two sides will again extend the agreement later this month.

Grossi confirmed that there have been meetings, and that the Iranian side “has reiterated its will to engage and to cooperate and to provide answers.”

“But so far they haven’t done that,” Grossi claimed, hoping that this might change, adding, “But as we speak, we haven’t had any concrete progress on any of the issues.”

This Argentinian gentleman seems playing in on the Western court against Iran or any other country that it resists against the world arrogance’s demands. The IAEA expects Iran to fully observe its JCPOA commitments but it remains indifferent against the Western countries’ commitments regarding the deal.

The IAEA and the West should realize this fact that this time Iran does not intend to retreat from its rightful nuclear programs as enough is enough for the country for observing its JCPOA commitments unilaterally.

Although the nuclear talks continue and different remarks are made about the outcome of the Vienna talks, so far no deal has been stricken and the West likely intends to prolong the talks in order to keep Iran’s economy in limbo.

On Monday, the United States, which has for two months been holding indirect talks with Iran on the future of the tattered nuclear deal, said it was not even sure if Tehran really wanted to come back into compliance.

“We’ve been engaged in indirect conversations, as you know, for the last couple of months, and it remains unclear whether Iran is willing and prepared to do what it needs to do to come back into compliance,” Secretary of State Antony Blinken told the House Foreign Affairs Committee.

“We’re still testing that proposition,” Blinken said.

Blinken remarks came while Iran has repeatedly said that it is ready to return to its JCPOA obligations if all sanctions are removed. When it is said all sanctions it means all sanctions and not partial ones.

The Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution has said there is no problem with the talks but they should not be prolonged as he has set the red lines and the negotiation team is obliged to follow it this time and they should not retreat even an inch from Iran’s rightful demands.

Blinken’s remarks show that the U.S. despite the remarks of its officials is not so serious in removing all sanctions and it wants to make Iran tired for giving concessions by dragging the talks.

But they should consider this point that there will be no concessions even if the talks prolong for months and Iranian negotiation team should be fully on alert in order not to be deceived by the U.S. And the IAEA is better to stop such anti-Iran claims because Iran has done more than its obligations to the IAEA and the JCPOA.

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On the first day of the IAEA Board of Governors session on Monday, the world nuclear body Rafael Grossi claimed that no progress had been made in resolving safeguards issues with the Islamic Republic of Iran.

The head of the world nuclear watchdog added that the lack of progress in clarifications on the part of Iran on the IAEA’s questions about the accuracy and comprehensiveness of Iran’s safeguard statements seriously affects the body’s ability to ensure that the nature of Iran’s nuclear program is peaceful.

Grossi claimed Iran has failed to answer questions about the discovery of uranium particles at former undeclared sites in the country, calling on Tehran to provide information “without further delay.”

He has made claims about what he called undeclared nuclear activities in places in Iran.

“For objectivity’s sake, I should say that the Iranian government has reiterated its will to engage and to cooperate and to provide answers, but they haven’t done that so far,” he told reporters later. “So I hope this may change, but as we speak, we haven’t had any concrete progress.”

In accordance with a piece of legislation approved by the Iranian parliament in early December last year dubbed “Strategic Action to Lift Sanctions” Iran temporarily suspended the implementation of the Additional Protocol, but later Iran nuclear agency(AEOI) and the world agency reached a three-month agreement to continue the IAEA inspections of Iranian nuclear sites. And the inspections agreement has been recently extended for a month amid nuclear talks in Vienna between Iran and the nuclear participants in the JCPOA.

Iran agreed in good faith with IAEA that surveillance cameras in some nuclear facilities should be kept out of the access of IAEA inspectors for up to three months.

According to the IAEA agreement with Iran if U.S. sanctions were lifted within three months, Iran would provide the CCTV data to the IAEA, otherwise the recorded data would be deleted forever. The three-month agreement ended last week, and as a result of consultations, the Islamic Republic once again showed goodwill to extend the recording of camera data for one month until June 24.

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Upon his arrival to Tehran, the IAEA chief was welcomed by the Spokesman for Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI) Behrouz Kamalvandi and Iran’s Representative in IAEA Kazem Gharibabadi.

Grossi’s second visit to the Islamic Republic of Iran since taking office as director-general of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) comes amid a countdown to the deadline set by Iran slated for Feb. 23 to end the implementation of Additional Protocol (AP).

Grossi’s first visit to Tehran took place in early September at the invitation of authorities of the Islamic Republic of Iran and in line with continuing Iran’s cooperation and commitments as a member of this international body.

Last night, Salehi told reporters that at tomorrow’s meeting with Rafael Grossi, the Agency’s considerations will be discussed in the framework of the Safeguards Agreement, as well as the cooperation of the two parties.

Earlier, in a tweet, Grossi explained the purpose of his visit to Iran Saturday, saying that his visit aims at finding a mutually agreeable solution, compatible with Iranian law.

His visit comes as Iran’s permanent ambassador to the International Organizations in Vienna Kazem Gharibabadi last Monday said that Iran has informed the IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi of suspension of the country’s voluntary actions under the JCPOA from February 23, 2021.

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Mousavi expressed hope that Grossi would fulfil his international duties professionally and with adopting an independent position toward Iran cooperation with IAEA.

“The Islamic Republic of Iran is ready to maintain and expand constructive interaction and cooperation with the agency based on mutual respect and professional precision and neutrality of this institution,” he said in a message, congratulating appointment of Rafael Grossi as the director general of the IAEA.

The UN nuclear watchdog’s board on Tuesday picked Argentina’s Grossi to become the agency’s next chief, and he immediately pledged to act independently and neutrally on issues including Iran, Reuters reported.

“I will do my job and I think my job is to implement the mandate in a manner which is independent, which is fair, which is neutral,” Grossi told reporters after the vote when asked about Iran, declining to go into specifics.

“What I think is important is that I give my member states and the international community the guarantee that I am absolutely independent and impermeable to pressure,” he said.

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