Tehran: Head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI), Mohammad Eslami, has asserted that Iran’s cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) is dictated by legislation enacted by the Iranian Parliament. He highlighted that the UN nuclear watchdog has not met its legal responsibilities towards Iran.

According to Islamic Republic News Agency, Eslami, speaking to journalists at a cabinet meeting in Tehran, explained that the relevant law outlines two specific conditions, with the authority to determine their fulfillment resting with the AEOI’s report and the endorsement of the Supreme National Security Council. Eslami criticized the IAEA for not condemning US-Israeli attacks on Iran’s nuclear facilities in June and for not issuing a declaration to secure sensitive nuclear data.

Eslami pointed out that without these actions, the parliamentary law cannot be executed. He further clarified that the presence of IAEA inspectors in Iran is not conducted at the agency’s discretion. Inspections have only occurred twice, coordinated by the Foreign Ministry and sanctioned by the Supreme National Security Council, at the Bushehr and Tehran facilities.

In other developments, Eslami announced the opening of a new radiation processing center in Ardabil, located in northwest Iran. He also mentioned a new agreement with Russia concerning the construction of large-scale nuclear power plants. The initial deal from the 2000s covered eight large units, with four planned for Bushehr and another four in eastern Hormuzgan Province.

Eslami also disclosed that an initial memorandum has been signed in Russia to include small modular reactors (SMRs) in the agreement, with hopes to start a pilot phase in northern Iran and potentially expand to industrial and mining areas.