TEHRAN – Mohammad Eslami, head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI), has addressed the 68th General Conference of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), emphasizing that Iran will not be the sole party living up to its commitments under the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) while Western signatories to the deal continue to shun it. 

"The ongoing political and psychological pressures are being exerted with the intention to force Iran into implementing JCPOA obligations, regardless of the commitments related to the termination of sanctions," Eslami stated. "JCPOA should not be implemented at the expense of only one party."

Eslami highlighted Iran's full cooperation with the IAEA, noting that despite comprising only 3% of global nuclear installations, Iran received more than one-fifth of the IAEA's inspections in 2023. 

He further stated that Iran's suspension of JCPOA commitments, including halting international oversight of non-nuclear production, followed the U.S. withdrawal from the deal and the failure of European parties to uphold their obligations.

"Iran's suspension of its commitments under the JCPOA followed the illegal U.S. withdrawal from the deal and the failure of the European parties to the JCPOA and the European Union to uphold their obligations," Eslami explained. 

Eslami also condemned the assassination of Iranian nuclear scientists, acts of sabotage, and Israeli-led terrorism against Iran. He accused Israel of orchestrating propaganda against Iran's peaceful nuclear program to distract from its own nuclear weapons program and atrocities.

"The regime is spearheading propaganda against Iran's peaceful nuclear program in a bid to divert the world public opinion away from its atrocities," Eslami stated.

He stressed that nuclear disarmament is the international community's main priority and that nuclear-weapon states must fulfill their obligations under Article 6 of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT).

"Nuclear disarmament is the main priority of the international community, stressing that nuclear-weapon states are required to fulfill their obligations under Article 6 of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT)," Eslami emphasized.

Eslami also called for the creation of a nuclear-weapon-free Middle East, noting that Israel has repeatedly threatened Iran and Palestinians in Gaza with nuclear attacks while refusing to join the NPT. 

"Israeli authorities, over the past year, have frequently threatened the Iranian nations and Palestinians in the Gaza Strip with nuclear bombardment while continuing to refuse to join the NPT," Eslami said. "Israel's continued refusal to join the NPT and subject its nuclear facilities to the International Atomic Energy Agency's safeguards poses a serious threat to international peace and security."

Eslami concluded by stating that Iran is committed to increasing its nuclear electricity generation capacity to 20,000 megawatts by 2040 and that the IAEA should support all member states' access to necessary technology and equipment without discrimination.