Iran’s Foreign Ministry has firmly rejected recent statements made by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and reaffirmed the country’s commitment to maintaining a peaceful and transparent nuclear program, fully supervised by the IAEA, despite ongoing pressures from the United States and European nations.
In a press briefing on Saturday, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baqaei addressed the comments made by IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi, who had raised concerns about Iran’s uranium enrichment activities.
Grossi told Reuters on Friday that Iran was accelerating its uranium enrichment to up to 60% purity, nearing the weapons-grade threshold of around 90%.
Baqaei responded by emphasizing that Iran’s nuclear activities are fully in line with its obligations under the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) and the Comprehensive Safeguards Agreement, ensuring that all operations remain peaceful and transparent.
He criticized a recent resolution by the IAEA’s Board of Governors, led by the U.S. and European countries — Britain, France, and Germany — which accused Iran of non-cooperation and demanded a comprehensive report on its nuclear activities by spring 2025. Baqaei argued that the resolution was unjustified and lacked a legal basis.
In retaliation to what Tehran views as an unfounded resolution, Iran has accelerated its nuclear capabilities, including injecting uranium gas into new advanced centrifuges. Baqaei also pointed out that, during Grossi’s recent visit to Tehran, several proposals were made to enhance technical cooperation between Iran and the IAEA.
However, he claimed that these efforts were undermined by European nations and the U.S., who pursued a policy of pressure and manipulation within the IAEA, effectively making Grossi’s efforts fruitless.
Baqaei reiterated that Iran’s nuclear program operates within the framework of international agreements and remains under the continuous surveillance of the IAEA. He stressed that Tehran has fully informed the agency about its recent nuclear activities, including the enrichment of uranium up to 60% purity, and that these activities are being carried out transparently.
Concluding his remarks, Baqaei stated that Iran would not be intimidated by external pressure and force. He emphasized that while Iran remains open to positive engagement, it will stand firm in defending its rights when challenged.
The Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), signed in 2015 between Iran and the P5+1 nations, recognized Iran’s right to develop nuclear energy for peaceful purposes while imposing certain restrictions in exchange for the lifting of economic sanctions.
However, following the U.S. withdrawal from the agreement in 2018 and the re-imposition of sanctions, Iran has progressively moved to restore its rights and reduce some of the constraints it had initially accepted.
