Emphasis on Confidentiality of Agreement with the Agency in Response to Associated Press Report

The Iranian representative to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) reacted to an Associated Press report regarding the details of an agreement between Iran and the Agency, emphasizing that this agreement is confidential and therefore neither Iran nor the Agency can comment on media reports. According to the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting, Reza Najafi, Iran's ambassador to the Agency, stated on Thursday, August 29, that the aim of these 'news fabrications' is to influence the Vienna nuclear agreement, adding that 'we expect media controversies to continue until the implementation of the JCPOA and even after that.' The Associated Press reported on Wednesday, August 28, that it had obtained a draft document indicating that under the confidential agreement between Iran and the IAEA, Tehran has been allowed to use its own experts to inspect the disputed Parchin facilities. Yukiya Amano, the Director General of the IAEA, called this report 'incorrect,' while Behrouz Kamalvandi, the deputy and spokesperson for the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran, described it as 'speculation.' Meanwhile, in a rare instance of complete coordination between Iran and the Agency, Iran's representative in this UN-affiliated organization stated that part of the agreement between Iran and the Agency, referred to as a 'roadmap' and also 'specific arrangements,' is confidential and 'neither Iran nor the Agency can disclose this content.' Mr. Najafi added, 'Therefore, neither we nor the Agency can comment on news that may be published in the media.' He expressed hope that the agreement between Iran and the Agency would lead to 'closing past issues.' Based on the 'roadmap' signed on Tuesday, July 23, just hours before the official announcement of the comprehensive nuclear agreement between Iran and the 5+1 group, both sides announced that they had reached a 'separate agreement' regarding the Parchin military site. The version of this new roadmap published on the same day did not mention any details of this 'separate arrangement.' However, during question-and-answer sessions in several Senate and House committees in the United States in recent weeks, some American representatives and senators revealed that according to a clause in this 'roadmap,' sampling from the Parchin site is the responsibility of Iran. The IAEA announced on Saturday, August 24, that it had received information and documents from Iran regarding outstanding issues from the country's past nuclear program. Mr. Najafi, on Thursday, in another part of his remarks regarding next week's IAEA Board of Governors meeting, stated that the Director General of the Agency will present a report on the responsibilities of this international body regarding the Vienna nuclear agreement to obtain authorization from the Board of Governors to carry out these actions. In the Vienna nuclear agreement, the IAEA has been designated as the verifier of Iran's actions.