Why it matters:
Iran's peaceful nuclear program continues to face Western political pressures and baseless accusations. The new U.S. administration has intensified its maximum pressure approach, while the IAEA Director General is perceived to align with Western interests through biased reports that increase scrutiny of Iran's nuclear activities.
The big picture:
The quarterly meeting of the IAEA Board of Governors began on Tuesday in Vienna, with representatives from 35 member countries in attendance. This meeting, which will continue until Friday, will address various topics, including nuclear safety, the implementation of safeguard agreements, and the agency's scientific and research activities.
What he's saying:
Mohsen Naziri-Asl, Iran's ambassador and representative at the IAEA Board of Governors meeting, discussed "Verification and Monitoring of the Islamic Republic of Iran in Light of UN Security Council Resolution 2231 (2015)."
He stated that in the 21st century, the agency is expected to promote the peaceful use of nuclear energy without discrimination, alongside its stated objectives.
Naziri-Asl emphasized that Iran has always pursued a policy of preventing the acquisition, production, stockpiling, or use of nuclear weapons, firmly rejecting weapons of mass destruction (WMD), particularly nuclear weapons, as outdated, inhumane, and harmful to international peace and security.
Go deeper:
Before the JCPOA, Western countries attempted to securitize Tehran's peaceful nuclear program, using sanctions and military threats against Iran. However, the closure of the "Possible Military Dimensions" (PMD) file in 2015 removed this justification. After signing the JCPOA, Iran remained committed to all its obligations, but the U.S. unilaterally withdrew from the agreement in 2018, and Europe failed to fulfill its commitments.
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