The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has not recorded any signs that Iran is increasing uranium enrichment levels. This was stated by the Director General of the UN agency, Rafael Grossi, to the Russian state television "Russia-24" during a conference on atomic energy in Moscow, TASS reported, quoted by BTA.
"Iran was hit, sites of the Iranian nuclear infrastructure where uranium enrichment was taking place were hit. We do not see any signs that Iran is increasing the level of uranium enrichment. It is unlikely that they (the Iranian authorities) will deal with this now, in the conditions of heightened international tension. Some of the centrifuges were destroyed, but some remained intact - at other sites. Theoretically, Iran has such capabilities (for enrichment - TASS note)", Grossi said.
"We are trying to restore our relations with Iran, because they are irreplaceable. Even after the attacks on the nuclear facilities of the Islamic Republic, it is very important that Iran continues to cooperate with us. It remains our irreplaceable partner", the IAEA director said.
Grossi said that he had met with Iranian Vice President and Chairman of the Atomic Energy Organization of the Islamic Republic Mohammad Eslami before his meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
"We were able to exchange views, and I tried to understand what his expectations were from the IAEA's work in Iran. I stressed the importance of our attempts to restore relations, no matter how difficult it is. "We need to stabilize the situation in order to create a more stable context in the Middle East," the head of the UN agency told the "Russia-24" television channel.
Speaking in Moscow during the World Atomic Week conference, Grossi stressed the need to prevent the spread of nuclear weapons in the Middle East.
"There is something we can do (to establish peace in the Middle East - TASS). And most importantly - to try to prevent the countries in the region from acquiring nuclear weapons," the IAEA Director General noted.
In his words, "there are practically constant conflicts in this region and there is incredible tension." "Imagine what the situation would be if three, four, five, six (Middle Eastern) countries had nuclear weapons. The situation would become extremely dangerous," Grossi stressed.
"We cannot allow this", he pointed out.
The IAEA is unable to carry out inspection activities in Israel because the Jewish state, unlike Iran, has not signed the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT), Grossi added.
"It is important to understand that the IAEA is not a world policeman. It carries out inspections in Iran, but it does not control sites in Israel. It cannot inspect any sites. The agency's respective powers are given by the relevant nuclear non-proliferation treaties. This is a voluntary decision (by the states). Iran is a party to such an agreement and therefore its sites are monitored. Israel – is not", the director of the UN agency noted.
Grossi said that yesterday he had an interesting meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin, during which the two discussed the situation in Ukraine, as well as in the Middle East.
"The meeting with the president was, I would say, very interesting, but above all necessary for me, because, as I just said, Russia is a world leader in the field of nuclear energy. "Rosatom" is the company that exports the most reactors in the world," the IAEA director noted.
Grossi highly appreciated his meeting with Putin and emphasized that Russia is not only a global player and one of the five permanent members of the UN Security Council, but also "one of the countries in whose hands lies the decision for peace in the whole world or vice versa".
"That is why it is simply necessary to get his (Putin's - TASS note) opinion on these issues, to get his support for what the IAEA is trying to do. I am grateful for this opportunity. We discussed Iran, the Middle East, the situation in Ukraine, and for me it was something unique. I undoubtedly drew many interesting moments from this (conversation)", the IAEA director added.