‘Certain IAEA inspectors are involved in intelligence activities’

TEHRAN, June 7 (MNA) – The Iranian ambassador to the International Atomic Energy Agency said that certain IAEA inspectors are involved in intelligence activities. Ambassador Ali Asghar Soltanieh made the remarks during a speech at a meeting of the 35-member IAEA Board of Governors in Vienna on Wednesday. “The inspectors which are supposed to verify fissionable nuclear materials and related nuclear facilities declared by member states according to the Safeguards Agreements are forced by a couple of states to be involved in intelligence activities,” he stated. Elsewhere in his remarks, Soltanieh said that despite the pressure exerted on Iran by the West, the Islamic Republic will continue its peaceful nuclear activities, including uranium enrichment. The Islamic Republic of Iran is fully committed to its obligations under the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and has always regarded negotiations as the only civilized way to clarify misunderstandings and increase cooperation on international issues such as the use of nuclear technology for peaceful purposes, disarmament, and non-proliferation, he said, adding that within this framework Iran will continue its nuclear activities, including uranium enrichment, meant for peaceful purposes under the supervision of the IAEA. He also said that Iran will not give in to pressure and will not suspend uranium enrichment, advising world powers to be realistic about Iran’s nuclear program and try to find a proper solution to the issue. On the next round of talks between Iran and world powers over Tehran’s nuclear program, which is scheduled to be held in Moscow on June 18 and 19, Soltanieh said that Iran is hopeful that the 5+1 group (the five permanent members of the UN Security Council and Germany) will adhere to the agreements reached during the Istanbul talks on April 14 in order to help the talks produce positive results. He added that the remarks being made by U.S. and European officials ahead of the Moscow talks are not constructive and could negatively affect the process of talks.