Moscow calls on IAEA chief to adhere to neutrality, objectivity towards Iran

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has called on International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director General Rafael Grossi to maintain impartial and professional assessments of Iran’s nuclear program. 

“We urge Director General Grossi, who has been advocating the resumption of contacts with Tehran, to strictly adhere to the principles guiding the IAEA Secretariat — including neutrality, objectivity, and professionalism in both its assessments and overall activities,” Tass news agency quoted Lavrov as saying on Friday.  

Speaking after meeting with his Egyptian counterpart in Cairo, the top Russian diplomat reminded that Iran’s nuclear facilities — which had been under IAEA monitoring — had come under attack.

Lavrov was referring to the June strikes carried out by the US and Israel against Iran’s peaceful nuclear facilities, which were under the UN supervision.

These acts of aggression also targeted Iranian nuclear scientists. Yet the IAEA, whose director general, Grossi, chose not to condemn the attacks.

Senior Iranian officials have warned that the IAEA chief should avoid expressing baseless opinions about Iran’s nuclear program.

Grossi has come under fire for paving the way for the US and the Israeli regime’s unprovoked and unjust aggression against the Islamic Republic.

Days before the aggression was launched, the IAEA released a politically-motivated report accusing Iran of “non-compliance,” which was followed by a resolution against the country at the IAEA board of governors meeting in Vienna, pushed by the European troika.

Grossi’s biased stance has led the US, Israel’s key backer, to exercise intense pressure on the global stage towards painting Iran’s nuclear work in a bad light.

A number of diplomats also slammed Grossi’s “irresponsible and fallacious IAEA report, which they said caused “irreparable damage to the agency.”

According to documents recently acquired by Iranian intelligence agencies, Grossi has had secret contacts with Israeli regime officials despite the regime not being a signatory to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT).

Iran declares end of Cairo deal after IAEA passes Western resolution

Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi says Iran now considers the Cairo understanding with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) terminated, following the passage of an anti-Iran resolution at the agency’s Board of Governors.

The Russian foreign minister in Friday's remarks added that the current pause in Iran’s relations with the IAEA was “not caused by the authorities in Tehran.” 

Before the unprovoked war, Iran had warned the IAEA about any politically-motivated move against the country, saying it could derail Tehran's cooperation with the UN nuclear watchdog.

Elsewhere in his remarks, Lavrov also drew attention to Egypt’s mediating efforts to help restore dialogue between Iran and the agency.

Last month, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said that Iran now considers the Cairo understanding, reached in September with the IAEA, terminated, following the passage of an anti-Iran resolution at the agency’s Board of Governors.

The Board narrowly approved the resolution drafted by the European Troika - France, Germany and the UK - and the United States - that urges Tehran to “without delay” report on its enriched uranium stockpile and facilities damaged in the June aggression by Israel and the US, while omitting any mention of Iran’s longstanding cooperation with the agency.

Cairo Agreement termination direct outcome of E3-US provocations: Iran FM

The Iranian foreign minister says the US-E3 provocations are the root cause of the Cairo agreement

Iran’s Supreme National Security Council (SNSC) had earlier warned that Tehran would suspend its cooperation with the IAEA after the United Nations Security Council voted not to permanently lift sanctions on Tehran.

Araghchi, during a recent visit to Moscow, reiterated Iran's commitment to defending its legal nuclear rights under the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), saying Tehran’s nuclear policies have remained within the international legal framework.

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