IAEA Report on Iran Mostly Positive: Araqchi
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – A top Iranian diplomat signaled grim satisfaction with the IAEA chief’s final report on Iran’s past nuclear activities, stressing that the “relatively white” report should restrain the Board of Governors from looking for any more excuses to avoid closing the so-called PMD case.
Speaking in a television talk show on Wednesday night, Deputy Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi voiced satisfaction with the overall conclusion of a final report by the International Atomic Energy Agency director general on the so-called PMD (possible military dimensions) in Iran's nuclear program.
Although the agency’s report contains weak points, its conclusion confirms the peacefulness of Iran’s nuclear program, Araqchi said.
He added that the UN nuclear watchdog’s report could have avoided a number of negative points, but “our evaluation is that the agency’s report is relatively white (positive).”
Araqchi underlined that the report will not leave the IAEA Board of Governors and the Group 5+1 (Russia, China, the US, Britain, France and Germany) with any more excuses for not closing the PMD case.
“We believe that the Board of Governors, which is the decision-making body at the agency, can and should close this (PMD) case on the basis of this report,” he stressed.
He once again reiterated that a final nuclear deal with the Group 5+1 cannot take effect unless the case on the so-called PMD in Tehran’s nuclear program is closed.
His comments came after the IAEA on Wednesday released a much-awaited report, titled “final assessment on past and present outstanding issues regarding Iran’s nuclear programme.”
The report has confirmed that the agency has no credible indications of suspicious work in Tehran’s nuclear activities.
As part of a Road-map signed between Iran and the IAEA in July, the agency is required to finish its investigations about Iran’s nuclear activities and submit a report to the Board of Governors by December 15.
The Road-map was signed on the same day that Tehran and the Group 5+1 reached a conclusion on a lasting nuclear agreement, known as the JCPOA.
The IAEA has been given the role of verifying Iran’s commitments under the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).
The agreement was officially adopted on October 18, and is going to take effect within the next few weeks.