Iran Calls Agency Report Repetitive: 'Centrifuges Were Inactive'

Iran's representative to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) described the agency's new report on Iran as a 'repetition of previous reports' and stated that the recently collected centrifuges had been 'inactive' at Iran's nuclear sites for 'years'. According to the IRNA news agency, Reza Najafi emphasized on Wednesday, November 17, that 'this report also shows that all nuclear activities at Iran's facilities continue under the supervision of the agency and there has been no deviation from peaceful purposes.' According to AFP, the IAEA report indicates that Iran has begun the collection of centrifuges and related facilities at the Natanz and Fordow centers. Meanwhile, Iran's representative at the IAEA stated: 'Some time-consuming actions, which are reversible, such as collecting centrifuges that have remained inactive at our sites for years, are being carried out as preliminary work.' Mr. Najafi stressed that the agency's report, apart from changing figures, 'does not provide any new substantive content regarding its main duty, which is the implementation of safeguards in Iran' and is a 'repetition of previous report contents.' He added: 'Unfortunately, the report once again includes technical and unnecessary details that have repeatedly been protested by us and the Non-Aligned Movement.' The Iranian representative at the IAEA did not provide further explanation about what he referred to as 'technical and unnecessary details' in the agency's report. Mr. Najafi also reacted to parts of the agency's report regarding the observation of 'reconstruction signs' in Parchin, saying, 'If the intention is to build a rest room, we do not think such an issue should be of great importance.' He also predicted that a possible resolution by the P5+1 group to close the potential military dimensions of Iran's past nuclear program, or PMD, would be approved by the IAEA Board of Governors, and its rejection is 'unlikely.' A day before Mr. Najafi's statements, Gholamali Khoshroo, Iran's ambassador to the United Nations, announced that the Islamic Republic had implemented 'all voluntary actions' in the so-called 'roadmap' agreement and called for the 'permanent cancellation' of all IAEA Board resolutions against Iran. According to a confidential agreement between Iran and the IAEA signed under the title 'roadmap' on July 14, ambiguities regarding the potential military dimensions of Iran's past nuclear program or PMD are to be resolved. Meanwhile, Yukiya Amano, the IAEA Director General, reiterated on Tuesday at the 17th regular session of the UN General Assembly that he would present his final report to the Board of Governors on December 15. Mr. Amano visited the military site of Parchin near Tehran on September 20, and a day later it was announced that Iranian experts had taken samples from this site. The agency reported on Thursday, September 26, in a confidential report that satellite images had shown the construction of a new building at one of the Parchin locations. However, Iranian officials described this report as 'ridiculous' and stated that this building was constructed for the rest of the workers.