Iran Urges IAEA to Ensure International Cooperation on Nuclear Security
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI) Ali Akbar Salehi called on the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to guarantee that international cooperation with Iran on nuclear security issues will continue unabated.
Salehi has travelled to Vienna to take part in the International Conference on Nuclear Security (ICONS 2020).
In a Monday address to the conference, the theme of which is “Sustaining and Strengthening Efforts”, Salehi highlighted Iran’s ongoing activities in the nuclear security sector, and called on the international community to combat threats such as cyber-attacks on the Iranian nuclear facilities.
He also reminded the IAEA of its duties on the basis of its Charter, stressing that the primary responsibility for nuclear security lies with governments.
Salehi urged the UN nuclear watchdog to make the necessary arrangements to guarantee that international cooperation with Iran in the nuclear security sphere will go on and to prevent a harm to the course of cooperation under any pretext.
He further praised the IAEA for working in cooperation with Iran in the affairs relating to nuclear security, and provided a description of the methods adopted by the Islamic Republic to ensure the security of its nuclear sites in accordance with the IAEA’s regulations.
The Iranian official also described the 2015 nuclear deal as a significant international achievement, blasted the US’ unwise policies on the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), and reminded Europe about its responsibility to save the nuclear deal and distance itself from Washington’s bullying and unilateral policies.
The top Iranian nuclear official’s visit to Vienna comes a few days after the US imposed sanctions on him. The US Treasury Department announced sanctions targeting the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI) and its top official on January 30.
ICONS 2020 includes a scientific and technical program comprising high-level policy discussions on the overall themes central to nuclear security and parallel technical sessions on related specialized scientific and technical, legal and regulatory issues, according to the IAEA.
The previous conference, held in 2016, attracted over 2,000 participants, including 47 government ministers, from 139 Member States and 29 intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations.