Iran’s nuclear materials remain buried beneath the ruins of facilities bombed in recent attacks, Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi has said.
Speaking during his visit to Cairo, Araghchi confirmed that no agreement had been reached regarding international inspections.
The Atomic Energy Organisation of Iran is currently assessing whether the nuclear materials can be retrieved and in what condition. Once the assessment is complete, a report will be submitted to the Supreme National Security Council, which will decide on the next steps based on national security considerations.
Araghchi stressed that under the agreement signed with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) on Tuesday, no inspections have taken place, nor has any consensus been reached to allow them.
He explained that the accord recognises that cooperation with the agency must take place under new conditions shaped by security concerns and recent legislation passed by the Iranian parliament.
He added that the agreement would only remain valid provided no hostile actions are taken against Iran, including activation of the so-called “snapback” mechanism to reinstate UN sanctions.
If triggered, Araghchi warned, “the agreement would no longer be valid,” and Iran would respond accordingly.
He further reiterated Iran’s position to its European counterparts that neither military action nor the snapback mechanism would resolve the nuclear issue, cautioning that such measures would only escalate tensions.
The agreement signed in Cairo on Tuesday is intended to provide a new framework for cooperation following Israeli and U.S. attacks on Iranian nuclear facilities in June.
(NAN)