Iran urges IAEA to redeem reputation

Head of Iran’s Atomic Energy Organization describes the UN nuclear agency’s latest report on the country as “unfair,” calling on the body to redeem its reputation.

In a live Press TV interview, Head of Iran’s Atomic Energy Organization Ali Akbar Salehi strongly criticized the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) for adopting an “unprecedented” approach, exclusively in monitoring Iran’s nuclear program.

“Over 5,000 man-days of inspections have been made on Iran’s nuclear installation. This is unprecedented in the history of the IAEA,” said Salehi after attending the 54th General Conference of the IAEA.

Emphasizing on the extensive Iranian cooperation extended to the IAEA inspectors, he expressed deep regret about the content of its latest report, describing it as unfair and unjustified. “So our relationship has been marred with some dissatisfaction from our side,” he noted.

“But we hope, and I honestly hope,…that the IAEA is beginning to rectify its previous procedures.”

Echoing recent remarks made by President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, Salehi said the agency’s authority seems to have fallen under the political influence of certain countries.

Addressing the IAEA’s annual conference of member states in Vienna, Ali Akbar Salehi urged the agency to remain impartial and objective and adopt a firm stance concerning Israel’s undeclared nuclear program.

Teheran has fiercely dismissed an intense campaign, led by US and Israel, alleging that Iran’s nuclear program has a hidden military aspect, arguing that as a signatory to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, it has the right to pursue and utilize peaceful nuclear energy.