Iran nuclear chief in Vienna to push for ban on attacks against nuclear sites
The head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI) says Tehran has proposed a resolution to the UN atomic agency demanding a global ban on military attacks against nuclear installations, in response to unprovoked strikes by Israel and the United States on its facilities.
Mohammad Eslami, who has left for Vienna to participate in the 69th General Conference of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), characterized the attack on Iran’s peaceful nuclear facilities and the agency’s lack of a position on this issue as an example of applying “a double standard.”
On June 13, Israel launched a blatant and unprovoked act of aggression against Iran, assassinating many high-ranking military commanders, nuclear scientists, and killing hundreds of civilians in 12 days.
On June 22, the United States also entered the war and bombed three Iranian nuclear facilities in Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan, in a clear violation of international law and the NPT.
Three days later, the Iranian Parliament unanimously passed a law mandating the government to suspend all cooperation with the IAEA. Since then, the agency’s inspectors have been barred from visiting the country’s nuclear sites.
“The recent aggression on Iranian soil not only damaged the nuclear industry, but it also struck a blow to the United Nations Charter,” he said.
Eslami explained that for this reason, a resolution has been prepared and proposed, and it is on the agenda of the General Conference.
He acknowledged that the resolution was naturally “not pleasing to hostile countries,” who had already adopted “very harsh positions” against it.
However, he stated that for Iran, the value of presenting the resolution—and having its contents registered and distributed to all members—far exceeded the importance of its approval.
Iran’s nuclear chief vows that the Islamic Republic would remain unbowed in the face of bullying powers’ excessive demands.
He emphasized the critical importance of proposing a legal ban on military attacks against nuclear facilities, stating that even if the resolution fails to pass, its rejection would itself demonstrate a fundamental violation of the United Nations Charter.
“Through the follow-ups we have conducted so far, countries aligned with Iran have also accepted it,” he noted.
Elsewhere in his remarks, Iran’s nuclear chief described this year’s IAEA General Conference as a “very valuable opportunity” to present the country’s positions and confront the “double standards” of other nations more directly than ever before.
The 69th IAEA General Conference will be held in Vienna from September 15 to 19.
US blocking resolution to ban attacks on nuclear sites
Meanwhile, AEOI spokesperson Behrouz Kamalvandi stated on Sunday that the US rejected Tehran’s proposed resolution to ban attacks on nuclear sites, even threatening to cut IAEA funding if it passed.
He stressed that such attacks endanger not only Iran’s nuclear facilities but also international law and the NPT, urging global cooperation to prevent future incidents.
Kamalvandi stated that the issue threatens the safety of nuclear infrastructure globally and urged for unity among nations at the 15–19 September conference.
