TEHRAN (Defapress) - In a joint statement issued early on Friday, the Iranian Foreign Ministry and the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI) announced that directives had been given to "commence the operation of a significant number of advanced centrifuges of various models."
This action, aimed at protecting Iran’s national interests and addressing its increasing requirements for a civilian nuclear program, is consistent with the country’s rights and obligations under the Comprehensive Safeguards Agreement, as stated in the announcement.
The statement followed the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)'s Board of Governors' vote, which resulted in a 19 to 3 decision, with 12 abstentions, in favor of a resolution that criticized Tehran for inadequate cooperation with the agency and called for a "comprehensive" report on its nuclear activities to be submitted by spring 2025 at the latest.
The statement emphasized that the "non-consensus" resolution was adopted under the "pressure and insistence" of Britain, France, Germany, and the United States, despite the lack of support from nearly half of the 35-member Board of Governors.
It highlighted that these nations had introduced a "politically motivated" resolution against the Islamic Republic, rather than promoting the constructive environment established during IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi's recent visit to Tehran.
Furthermore, it reaffirmed Iran's commitment to continue cooperating with the IAEA and adhering strictly to the Safeguards Agreement.
"The principled policy of the Islamic Republic of Iran has consistently been to engage constructively with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) within the framework of rights and obligations outlined in the Treaty on the NPT and the Comprehensive Safeguards Agreement," the statement concluded.