Political interference in IAEA’s technical affairs ‘unconstructive’: FM

Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian has described any political interference in the technical affairs of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) as “unconstructive,” stressing the need for avoiding political approaches in the forthcoming meeting of the Agency’s Board of Governors.

According to Press TV, the top diplomat made the remarks in a Thursday phone call with his Singaporean counterpart, Vivian Balakrishnan, during which the two sides discussed bilateral relations and other issues of mutual interest.

During the call, Amir-Abdollahian said an end should be put to the creation of “artificial and unconstructive circumstances” during the forthcoming meeting of IAEA’s Board of Governors.

“The process of technical cooperation between the Agency and the Atomic Energy Organization [of Iran] and the frequent emphasis put on the peaceful nature of Iran’s nuclear program by the Agency cannot be reversed all of a sudden and through a hasty political statement,” the FM said.

“During the recent visit to Iran by [Director General of the IAEA Rafael] Grossi, we reached a mutually satisfactory agreement through a positive process. We believe that political interference in the technical affairs of the Agency is totally unconstructive,” Iran’s foreign minister added.

Amir-Abdollahian emphasized that Iran is serious about achieving a “good, lasting and strong” agreement in the negotiations held in the Austrian capital city of Vienna to revive the landmark 2015 deal.

“An agreement is within reach, provided that all parties [to the Vienna talk] commit to diplomacy and their obligations in a realistic manner and avoid posing threats,” the FM said.

The Foreign Ministry has already warned to respond strongly and proportionately to any “unconstructive move” at the upcoming meeting of the UN nuclear watchdog, which will be held on June 6.

SS