Iran cannot completely cut cooperation with IAEA, says its foreign minister
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox
International Atomic Energy Agency inspectors have been unable to access Iran's nuclear installations since Israel and the US bombed them during a 12-day war in June.
PHOTO: REUTERS
Follow topic:
DUBAI – Iran cannot completely cut cooperation with the UN nuclear watchdog, its Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said on Aug 20 after passage of a law requiring high-level security approval for future inspections of its nuclear sites.
International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)inspectors have been unable to access Iran’s nuclear installations since Israel and the US bombed them
In July, Iran’s Parliament passed legislation suspending cooperation with the IAEA
Parliament acted after the Islamic Republic accused the IAEA of effectively paving the way for the Israel-US attacks with a report on May 31 that led the agency’s board of governors to declare Iran in breach of its non-proliferation obligations.
Still, Mr Araghchi, in remarks carried by state media on Aug 20, said Tehran “cannot completely cut our cooperation with the agency... Therefore, inspectors must be there to get this work done”.
He did not elaborate.
He spoke two days after a Foreign Ministry spokesman said Iran would continue talks with the IAEA, and they would probably have another round of negotiations in the coming days.
Responding to a question about resuming talks with Washington, Mr Araghchi said negotiations needed to reach “maturity”.
A sixth round of talks between Tehran and Washington was suspended after the Israeli and US strikes in June. REUTERS
