Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)

Security Council meddling in IAEA affairs destroys agency's reputation

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Vienna, March 8, IRNA
Iran-IAEA-Soltanieh
Iran's Ambassador to International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Ali-Asghar Soltanieh said Thursday that for the first time in the history of IAEA operation, the Security Council destroyed reputation of the UN specialized agency imposing restrictions on technical cooperation with the member states.

Soltanieh made the statement after IAEA Director General Mohamed ElBaradei confirmed reduction of technical cooperation with Iran.

Speaking to the 35-nation Board of Governors, he added that the UN nuclear agency is an independent international body should proceed with verification of Iranian nuclear program without Security Council meddling.

"While the UNSC is attempting to dictate its views and political incentives on the IAEA, the agency's impartiality should not be affected.

"Thus the UN Security Council is dictating the IAEA how and when to deprive one of its developing members of cooperation on the projects which are mainly for humanitarian and civilian services.

He stressed that the IAEA secretariat had fully examined the plans for cooperation with Iran prior to proposing them, adding that revision of these plans under any pretext will destroy the reputation and integrity of the UN nuclear agency.

Soltanieh said that the UNSC Resolution 1737 is in full violation of the IAEA charter.

Underlining that all of Iran's nuclear projects are peaceful, the Iranian envoy hoped that the secretariat of the agency will fully comply with its technical commitments to the peaceful and humanitarian projects and that it will avoid being influenced by the external political game.

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