Iran Envoy: IAEA chief's Tehran visit not related to so-called snapback mechanism

Iran Press TV

Sunday, 23 August 2020 3:08 PM

Iran's permanent representative to Vienna-based international organizations says the forthcoming visit to the Islamic Republic by the director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has nothing to do with the United States' latest effort to use the so-called snapback mechanism to restore UN sanctions against Tehran.

"This visit is not related to the so-called snapback mechanism and does not come at the US' request. The [IAEA chief Rafael] Grossi's trip [to Iran] takes place on the basis of Iran's invitation," Kazem Gharibabadi said in a post on his Instagram account on Sunday.

He added that the UN nuclear agency's chief will arrive in Tehran on Monday and hold talks with Iranian authorities on Tuesday and Wednesday.

The Iranian diplomat noted that Tehran's trust in the IAEA has been damaged in recent months, adding that it is necessary that Grossi's visit be aimed at building trust.

"We will not allow other parties to sway relations between Iran and the agency, particularly under the current sensitive circumstances," Gharibabadi said.

"It is important [for the IAEA] to assure Tehran that the agency will act on the basis of three fundamental principles of impartiality, independence and professionalism, and will not go beyond its standard principles as well as its own independent data when dealing with safeguards-related issues," he pointed out.

The UN nuclear agency chief also in a post on his Twitter account on Saturday confirmed his visit to Tehran "for meetings with Iranian authorities."

He said his talks with Iranian officials would focus on "outstanding questions related to safeguards in Iran."

"I hope to establish a fruitful and cooperative channel of direct dialogue. It is necessary," Grossi said.

The visit takes place over two months after the IAEA Board of Governors passed a resolution on June 19, put forward by Britain, France and Germany – the three European signatories to the landmark 2015 nuclear agreement, officially known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).

The resolution, the first of its kind since 2012, urges Iran to provide the IAEA inspectors with access to two sites that the trio claims may have been used for undeclared nuclear activities in the early 2000s.

The Islamic Republic rejects any allegations of non-cooperation with the IAEA, insisting that it is prepared to resolve potentially outstanding differences with the nuclear agency.

Immediately after the adoption of the IAEA report, Gharibabadi deplored it and said, "Adoption of this resolution will neither encourage Iran to grant access to the Agency based on fabricated and unfounded allegations, nor will it force Iran to come down from its principal positions."