Iran welcomes IAEA report as "positive, constructive"

Rafael Mariano Grossi, director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), speaks at the board of governors meeting in Vienna, Austria, March 9, 2020. (Xinhua/Photo Credit: Dean Calma / IAEA)

Iran welcomes the report by International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) on Iran's nuclear program, saying it's positive and constructive."

TEHRAN, Sept. 5 (Xinhua) -- The recent report by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) on Iran's nuclear program is "positive and constructive," said Kazem Gharibabadi, Iran's ambassador to the Vienna-based international organizations.

The report deals with the developments and progress of relations and cooperation between Iran and the IAEA over the past three months, Gharibabadi was quoted as saying by Iran Labor News Agency (ILNA) on Saturday.

"It indicates the constructive interaction of the two sides during the period to reach a common understanding and find solutions to issues," he said.

The IAEA's quarterly report on Friday said that Iran's stockpile of uranium enrichment has increased to 2,105kg (4,640lb), more than 10 times the permitted 202.08kg enriched uranium under the Iranian landmark nuclear deal, which was sealed between Iran and China, France, Germany, Russia, Britain and the United States in 2015.

U.S. President Donald Trump, however, pulled Washington out of the agreement in May 2018, reinstated old and new sanctions on Iran's energy and financial sectors, calling for new accord with the Islamic republic whereby more restrictions could be exerted on the nuclear activities of Tehran and a curb on the country's developing ballistic missile program.

Following the U.S. exit, Iran started to gradually renege on its obligations under the deal, and it vowed to produce more enriched uranium, resume relevant research and development activities and to rise the fissile purity of the enriched uranium from the permitted 3.6 percent to 4.5 percent.

The IAEA's report also confirmed that the organization's inspectors have taken samples from one of the two requested locations inside Iran, and they would take samples from the second location at the end of September.

The agreement of visiting the two locations, for the possibility of past uranium activities, was reached between Iran and the UN nuclear watchdog during the IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi's visit to Tehran on August 25-26.

Gharibabadi said Grossi's visit could lead to strengthening of mutual cooperation and trust, according to ILNA.

According to the IAEA report, Iran has shown goodwill in its interaction with the IAEA director general, and it expects the remaining issues to be settled by implementing mutual agreements and commitments, Gharibabadi added.

Iran has denied any covered nuclear activity and insists that its nuclear program is solely for peaceful purposes.