Iran’s deputy FM: UN nuclear watchdog must avoid turning reports into ‘tools of political pressure’

Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi says the United Nations nuclear watchdog should avoid turning technical reports into “tools of political pressure” if it “wants to be part of a diplomatic solution.”

Gharibabadi claims the International Atomic Energy Agency’s loss of oversight at Iranian nuclear facilities was the result of attacks by the US and Israel rather than a lack of cooperation by Iran.

He accuses the agency of using the consequences of the US-Israeli strikes to create “ambiguity” about Tehran’s nuclear program.

The comments come days after the IAEA sent a report to member states repeating the agency’s calls for Iran to let inspections resume in full and urgently share information about the fate of Tehran’s highly enriched uranium.

Times of Israel staff contributed to this report.