Iran: ‘Enemies’ highlight solely enrichment part of nuke program

A handout picture provided by the Iranian presidential office on April 10, 2021, shows Atomic Energy Organisation of Iran (AEIO) spokesman Behrouz Kamalvandi listening as the country's president (not pictured) delivers a speech on Iran's National Nuclear Technology Day, in the capital Tehran. (IRANIAN PRESIDENCY / AFP)

TEHRAN – The spokesman of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI) said on Saturday that uranium enrichment constitutes only part of Iran's nuclear activities, but the "enemies" seek to solely highlight it.

Making the remarks in an address to a meeting, Behrouz Kamalvandi added the country has done good work in the fields of producing radiopharmaceuticals and agriculture, according to the AEOI's website.

Atomic Energy Organization of Iran spokesman Behrouz Kamalvandi added the country has done good work in the fields of producing radiopharmaceuticals and agriculture

He noted that the "enemies" do not want Iran to enter the nuclear industry at all and as a result, they seek to make the world believe that Tehran is after other objectives through its nuclear activities.

The AEOI spokesman said the United States claim that foodstuff and medicine are not in the list of sanctions on Iran is a "lie."

The radiopharmaceuticals and even an Iranian producer of radiopharmaceuticals are sanctioned, he said.

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In September, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said in a report that it was "not in a position to provide assurance that Iran's nuclear program is exclusively peaceful" and that "no progress" has been made in resolving questions about the past traces of nuclear material in Iran's "three undeclared sites."

Slamming the IAEA for the report, Kamalvandi said at the time that it was a repetition of previous "baseless cases" with "political purposes."

In June, the IAEA's Board of Governors adopted an anti-Iran resolution proposed by the United States and three European countries, Britain, France, and Germany, accusing Iran of non-cooperation with the agency.

Following the move, Iran began injecting uranium gas into advanced centrifuges and disconnected some of the IAEA's cameras monitoring its sites.

READ MORE: Iran nuclear deal hinges on US

Iran signed a nuclear deal with world powers in 2015, accepting to put some curbs on its nuclear activities in return for the removal of the international sanctions on Tehran. In May 2018, however, the United States pulled out of the agreement and reimposed Washington's sanctions on Tehran, prompting the latter to reduce its commitments under the deal.