Iran will not deliver records of its nuclear activities to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) after a temporary understanding reached in January expired, the speaker of Iran's parliament said on Sunday.
"Nothing was extended, and therefore none of the items recorded inside will ever be given to the agency," official Islamic Consultative Assembly News Agency quoted speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf as saying.
Answering a question by a member of parliament in a public session, Qalibaf added that the records are in possession of the Iranian authorities, and Iran's Strategic Action Plan to Counter Sanctions (SAPCS) law is being "thoroughly" implemented.
The SAPCS act was passed by Iran's parliament in December 2020, requiring among other measures the Iranian executive branch to stop implementing the Additional Protocol to the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) by Feb. 23, in case the US anti-Iran sanctions were not lifted.
The IAEA and Iranian officials reached a temporary understanding in February to keep the IAEA's monitoring cameras under Iran's supervision for a period of three months up to May 24, and deliver the records to the agency only after sanctions on the country are lifted.
On Friday, the IAEA required an "immediate response" from Iran regarding the "possible continued collection, recording and retention of data," as contemplated in the temporary understanding, media reported.
Iran's ambassador to Vienna-based international organizations Kazem Gharibabadi said on Saturday in a televised interview that Iran's continued collection of data was "solely based on goodwill, and not as part of its obligations" towards the IAEA.
"Iran is not bound by any commitment to implement the agency's demand," and has "no duty to report on the expired agreement," Gharibabadi added as reported by Press TV.
Also on Saturday, the spokesman for the Iranian foreign ministry warned that Tehran will not negotiate endlessly over the revival of the 2015 Iran nuclear deal, urging the United States to abandon the "failed legacy" of former President Donald Trump.
The US government under Trump withdrew from the international deal in May 2018 and unilaterally reimposed sanctions on Iran. In response, Iran gradually stopped implementing parts of its commitments to the agreement from May 2019.
The Joint Commission of the nuclear agreement began to meet offline on April 6 in Vienna to continue previous discussions about a possible return of the United States to the deal and how to ensure the full and effective implementation of the 2015 deal.
READ ALSO:
