Mehdi Shapouri, speaking in an interview with the website of the Strategic Council on Foreign Relations, referred to the claim of the Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) at the Board of Governors meeting that Iran refuses to give the necessary explanations about the presence of particles of nuclear material in the three sites where the IAEA conducted additional inspections. Also referring to critical reactions of our country’s officials in this regard, he reminded: Since Iran’s nuclear program was raised, that is, from 2002 and 2003, it first entered the political phase and then into the security phase and landed in the UN Security Council.

He added: With the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), an effort was made to enter plan to the normal situation from the security phase, but with the withdrawal of the Trump administration from the JCPOA, the US administration and Iran’s enemies attempted again to make this case political and security. Although the Trump administration’s efforts in this regard have not been successful and we have seen the failure of his administration’s plans in the Security Council, those efforts are still being pursued, especially by the Zionist regime.

Politically destructive view towards Iran’s nuclear case

The international affairs expert said that the views and efforts to politicize the Iranian nuclear case have always been destructive and have hindered the resolution of the issue. Regarding the positions of the International Atomic Energy Agency, he said: The IAEA has made alleged studies in one period and raised issues concerning the possible military dimensions of Iran’s nuclear program in another. With those allegations, Iran’s case was sent to the Security Council and resolutions were issued by that organization against Iran; so this approach, which is backed by Iran’s rivals and enemies, has been totally destructive.

Meanwhile, Shapouri added that the IAEA’s approach in the current situation seems to be more of an effort to revive the JCPOA, noting: The International Atomic Energy Agency is trying to address the issue and revive the JCPOA between Iran and the Agency before the opportunity is lost.

He further remarked: From the point of view of the IAEA and the United States, Iran is approaching a nuclear breakthrough, and they believe that the task of knowledge and technology, the development of which has intensified, especially in recent months, should be determined as soon as possible in order to return the situation to the previous condition and not get out of control.

Shapouri, stressing that the report would not hinder the talks on reviving the JCPOA and that it looks like it will be pursued by both sides in some way, said: Iran and the IAEA, as well as the negotiating parties, are motivated to ensure that these issues do not impede the progress of the negotiations and that they can reach a viable solution.

Referring to the stress of the Iranian ambassador to the Atomic Energy Agency that the international body should distance itself from the political agenda and not artificially express concern, he added: The IAEA has made objections to Iran and Iranian officials have made this point in their statements that the Agency’s approach is political; but at the same time, with the realism of the Agency, we must somehow move towards dispute management, taking into account the interests of our country, in order to resolve such claims and prevent them from becoming more serious challenges against national interests.

US, Europe see revival of JCPOA as an opportunity

Referring to the Guardian report that the United States and Europe were ignoring the IAEA warning with the hope for the revival of JCPOA, he said: If the report had a really dangerous technical dimension, the US and Europe would not have ignored it because of the resumption of the JCPOA talks. The issues raised by the Agency are not new and have been raised in the past. For this reason, they also seem to be seeking to manage the problem; because the revival of the JCPOA is very important for all parties.

Referring to the remarks of the US Secretary of State that Iran’s readiness to return to its commitments are not clear and that its nuclear program has gone out of control, the international affairs expert said: The US President’s position on the JCPOA and the Iranian nuclear issue was ambiguous at some point; but now they seem to have taken a definite approach. They seek to revive the JCPOA, but at the same time say they will then seek a stronger and longer-term agreement and enter into talks with Iran on other issues in other contexts.

Referring to the sanctions imposed by Trump under various pretexts, as well as new and important progress made by Iran in the field of nuclear science and technology, Shapouri said: Returning to the situation before the US withdrawal from the JCPOA is not easy and requires complex negotiations and serious will. Iran insists that the United States must return to the situation before the Trump administration withdrew the JCPOA, and that the United States seeks to bring Iran back to the nuclear limitations of the JCPOA and that its distance from the nuclear breakout be at least a year.

He continued: The Biden administration wants to delay Iran’s approach to the nuclear threshold, and accordingly, sees the revival of the JCPOA as an opportunity that should not be allowed to be lost.

Domestic consumption of US Secretary of State’s remarks

The international affairs expert stressed that at a time when negotiations have reached a critical stage, the US Secretary of State’s remarks should be seen more in the context of diplomatic rhetoric and with the aim of “throwing the ball into the other side’s court”. With these positions, the United States seeks to put pressure on Iran. Meanwhile, Iran’s position that the United States has withdrawn the JCPOA and to revive the agreement, it must make sense and return the situation, especially in the discussion of sanctions, back to the time before the Trump administration withdrew from the JCPOA, is reasonable.

Shapouri also analyzed those positions for domestic consumption, saying: However, when Mr. Blinken goes to the Senate, he has to address issues that may be raised differently at the negotiating table.