Shamkhani Emphasizes Iran's Readiness to Continue Cooperation with the Atomic Agency

Yukiya Amano, the Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), met with Ali Shamkhani, Secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, in Tehran on Thursday morning, July 2. According to the state news agency IRNA, Shamkhani stated that Iran is 'as before' ready to continue 'close cooperation' with the agency 'to resolve outstanding issues.' He also mentioned that 'some obstacles to cooperation' in the past were due to what he described as 'different approaches' taken by the agency, which have 'challenged Iran's positive interaction' with this international body. The Secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council further stated that 'the sustainability and authenticity of any agreement depend on creating satisfaction for both negotiating parties.' According to IRNA, Yukiya Amano also described the 'existing concerns and sensitivities' regarding joint cooperation with Iran as 'understandable.' He reportedly offered suggestions to 'overcome the issues of disagreement' and 'accelerate the ongoing cooperation process.' The report did not specify Amano's proposals. Previously, the IAEA had announced in a press release that the focus of Amano's discussions in Tehran would be on 'how to expedite the resolution of all important issues related to Iran's nuclear program, including clarifying the issue of possible military dimensions [in this program].' Meanwhile, IRNA cited 'a source close' to the Iranian negotiating team stating that the purpose of the IAEA Director General's visit was 'to discuss past activities and receive Iran's proposals to resolve misunderstandings.' In recent months, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the leader of the Islamic Republic, and Iranian military officials have repeatedly expressed their strong opposition to access to Iran's military sites based on the Additional Protocol of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) and interviews with Iranian nuclear scientists to resolve 'remaining issues' between Iran and the IAEA. Additionally, according to a resolution passed by the Iranian parliament in the 'Obligation of the Government to Preserve Nuclear Achievements' plan, which was confirmed by the Guardian Council, 'access to military, security, and sensitive non-nuclear sites, documents, and scientists is prohibited and must comply with the resolutions of the Supreme National Security Council.' The meeting between Yukiya Amano and Ali Shamkhani occurred while Shamkhani had confirmed reports on June 29 about the Western party's request for interviews with 23 'officials and experts' in Iran's nuclear program, stating that he himself was the first person on this list. Meanwhile, a day before Amano's trip to Tehran, the Associated Press reported, citing a confidential IAEA document, that Iran has adhered to one of the most important conditions of the initial nuclear agreement regarding significantly reducing its enriched uranium reserves that could be used in the construction of nuclear weapons. According to this report, the agency announced in its monthly report to its members that over four tons of Iran's enriched uranium have entered a pipeline that converts uranium into oxide. Last month, the monitoring organization expressed concern that Iran's low-enriched uranium reserves, above eight tons, raised worries that Tehran might not be able to fulfill its commitment in this regard. However, according to the Associated Press, while the reported figure may fluctuate slightly, Tehran has fulfilled its commitments. Iran had agreed to oxidize or dilute its enriched uranium above 20 percent. At the same time, Tehran was supposed to limit its low-enriched uranium reserves to just over 7.6 tons and alter the remainder in a way that experts deem safe. In June, the IAEA announced that Iran, under the initial agreement in Geneva, had reduced its 20 percent enriched uranium reserves by over 80 percent to 38 kilograms and 40 grams.