The spokesperson for the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI) has criticized Rafael Grossi, the director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), for his “peculiar and unexpected” comments concerning negotiations aimed at reviving the 2015 nuclear deal.
Responding to recent comments by Grossi about the possibility of a "JCPOA 2.0", Behrouz Kamalvandi said on Wednesday that the IAEA chief’s role should be limited to technical matters, and that political statements are beyond the scope of his responsibilities.
Grossi recently said talks with Iran might need a new framework, rather than efforts to revive the 2015 nuclear deal— known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA)— whose fate has been in limbo ever since the United States unilaterally abandoned it in 2018.
"Trying to put [a nuclear deal] back into the JCPOA box wouldn’t work," Grossi said. “You can still call it a JCPOA, but it should be a JCPOA 2.0 or something because you have to adapt.”
Kamalvandi pointed out that no one except Grossi has ever raised the notion of a JCPOA 2.0.
Elsewhere in his remarks, he highlighted Iran’s legal right, under Article 9 of the Safeguards Agreement, to accept or reject proposed IAEA inspectors.
Iran has recently revoked the licenses of a number of IAEA inspectors from France and Germany.
Kamalvandi criticized Grossi for not acknowledging Iran’s legal rights in his reports and for politicizing the issue.
MP/IRN
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