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

President Seyyed 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.

According to Press TV, 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 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 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.

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 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.

Iran FM, IAEA chief agree to promote cooperation

In a meeting, 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.

SS/ME