Najafi: The Atomic Energy Agency Can Only Comment on Technical Aspects

Iran's representative to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) reacted to Yukiya Amano's statements regarding the 'not black and white' nature of the agency's report on Iran, stating: 'The agency is a technical organization and can only comment on technical aspects, while many of the issues raised are more political in nature.' Reza Najafi said on Thursday, December 5, in Vienna to the IRNA news agency: 'The issue that the agency has mentioned, that the PMD issue is not black and white, is actually up to the agency itself, and Mr. Amano must be accountable for explaining this matter.' Yukiya Amano had stated on Thursday at a press conference regarding the final report on the 'possibly military dimensions' of Iran's nuclear program: 'This report will not be black and white.' The ambassador and representative of the Islamic Republic of Iran at the IAEA also announced that the exact time for the release of Amano's report would be December 10. According to Najafi, after the release of the director general's report, 'a resolution will be prepared by the 5+1 group for necessary actions to close the PMD case, and on December 15, when a special meeting of the Board of Governors is held, this resolution will be reviewed and approved there.' The Iranian representative at the IAEA, regarding when the implementation phase of the JCPOA will occur, said: 'We are trying to complete the necessary actions for the implementation of the JCPOA by late December or early January, after which the JCPOA will enter the implementation phase.' Najafi explained the reason for the repeated phrase 'uncertainty about the peaceful nature of Iran's undeclared nuclear activities,' which was also emphasized in Amano's recent statement at the Board of Governors meeting, saying: 'It should be noted that the agency has the same position for all countries that do not implement the Additional Protocol.' According to the ambassador and representative of the Islamic Republic of Iran at the IAEA, 'the agency cannot assure the peaceful nature of undeclared nuclear facilities and state that all nuclear activities in that country are for peaceful purposes.' Najafi stated that 'the agency has been informing Iran of this issue for years,' adding: 'This phrase has been included in all reports over the past few years, but apparently some have thought it is a new statement.'