Head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran Mohammad Eslami said the AEOI won’t impede the UN nuclear watchdog’s access and inspection of its sites.

Speaking to reporters in Tehran on Saturday, tamped down media controversy over the new plans for the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), to toughen the monitoring of Iran’s nuclear activities, describing it as part of an ordinary course.

He said it is totally natural for a country with nuclear activities to allow a change in the level of monitoring when a change in the scale of enrichment takes place.

AEOI chief says IAEA has always been able to conduct its routine inspections at #Iran’s nuclear facilities without facing any restrictions.

“Iran operates within IAEA framework and it is natural that the agency will increase its inspections after a rise in nuclear activities.” pic.twitter.com/BVIabvrUyb

— Iran's Today (@Iran) December 14, 2024

Eslami said Iran has decided to increase the uranium enrichment capacity and so the frequency of IAEA inspections would naturally grow as well.

“We are acting within the framework of the IAEA, which oversees Iran’s activities.

It is natural that when, for example, three (uranium enrichment) units increase to five units, the monitoring will proportionally increase,” he noted.

Eslami stated that the IAEA is overseeing Iran’s nuclear activities in accordance with the Safeguards Agreement and the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) without any restriction.

“We have not created and will not create any obstacles for the agency’s inspections and access,” the AEOI chief was quoted as saying by Iranian media.

“We operate within the framework of safeguards, and the agency also acts according to regulations—no more, no less,” he added.

On Thursday, the IAEA said in a confidential report to member states that Iran has agreed to the Agency's request to increase the frequency and intensity of the implementation of safeguards measures at the Fordow Fuel Enrichment Plant (FFEP) and is facilitating the implementation of this strengthened safeguards approach.

Last week the UN nuclear agency reported that Iran had multiplied the pace of its enrichment to up to 60% purity at Fordow.