Iran’s interaction with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) is strictly governed by a law passed by its Parliament and is not subject to secret negotiations, a senior Iranian official stated on Tuesday.

Foreign Ministry Spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei, during his weekly press conference, directly addressed and dismissed recent claims by IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi concerning clandestine talks.

“The basis for Iran’s cooperation and interaction with the IAEA is the law approved by the Parliament,” Baqaei asserted, emphasizing that this framework is established in coordination with Iran’s Supreme National Security Council.

The spokesman clarified that Iran continues to uphold its membership in the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), with the NPT and the Safeguards Agreement forming the foundation of its engagement with the UN nuclear watchdog, just as they do for any other member state.

He outlined that a portion of Iran’s cooperation with the agency is routine, citing as an example the ongoing replacement of fuel for the Bushehr nuclear power plant.

Baqaei contrasted the current situation with the past, noting that while UN Security Council Resolution 2231 was in effect, Iran had voluntarily accepted time-bound commitments in hopes of having unjust sanctions lifted. Under present circumstances, however, he stressed that Iran alone determines the scope of its cooperation.

“The framework for cooperation is defined by the parliamentary law,” Baqaei concluded, affirming that the country will continue to act based on its obligations and this domestic legislation.

Source: Iranian media (edited by Al-Manar English Website)