TEHRAN – The Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI) issued a statement on Thursday urging IAEA chief Rafael Grossi to stop his repetitive “political” and “unprofessional” remarks about Iran’s peaceful nuclear activities.

On Thursday, Grossi said the 2015 Iran nuclear deal, officially known as the JCPOA, is outdated and it is necessary to look for a new format for a deal with Iran.

"The JCPOA is an empty shell. I don't think anybody thinks that the JCPOA can play a role at the moment. I think it used to be an agreement that was in operation for some time, but now, irrespective of what you may think about its merits or lack of thereof, it is obvious that technologically speaking, it has been completely superseded. It is no longer fit for purpose," Grossi said at a press conference in Tokyo.

Iran’s atomic organization said it is expected that the director general of the IAEA as the senior official of an important international body be “impartial, professional and apolitical”.

Iran’s AEOI said unfortunately some remarks and stances of Grossi, especially his recent positions, are far from these principles and caused this concern that this important international organization is undermining itself by being derailed from its “path of impartiality and professionalism”.

The statement by the AEOI added, “At a time that the United States and certain other Western countries are seeking to exploit the IAEA to put unfair pressure on Iran such political and unprofessional remarks can be used as a pretext for their illegitimate demands.

“The recent remarks of Mr. Grossi in his press conference in Tokyo is an example of unprofessional behavior and discourse. In his remarks he has asked Iran to prove that it is not seeking nuclear weapons.”

The AEOI added, “Mr. Grossi knows better than anybody else that about one fourth of all the Agency’s inspections are done in Iran that just possesses less than 3 percent of the world’s nuclear facilities. Iran has repeatedly insisted that its nuclear program is solely peaceful. Such course of repetitive political discourses is far from his status and position and must stop.”