TEHRAN: Iran reaffirmed on Monday its “readiness” to cooperate with the UN nuclear watchdog, while also revealing a drone capable of hitting major cities in Israel, with its foreign ministry asking the UN’s watchdog not to yield to Israel’s pressure.

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in a recent report said it “cannot assure” the peaceful nature of Tehran’s nuclear programme, after which France, Britain and Germany said they had “serious doubts” about Iran’s intentions to revive the deal curbing its nuclear programme in return for a lifting of sanctions.

Speaking after European powers expressed frustration with Iran’s intentions to salvage the agreement, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Nasser Kanani urged the IAEA “not to yield to Israel’s pressure” over Tehran’s peaceful nuclear activities.

As the IAEA’s Board of Governors met on Monday, Iran said it is “ready to cooperate with the agency to clear up the false and unrealistic perceptions regarding its peaceful nuclear activities,” Kanani said in a press conference.

Tehran declares its “readiness to continue constructive cooperation with the IAEA”, Kanani added, also pointing to the agency’s “obligations”.

IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi after opening the board of governors meeting said he hoped Iran would start cooperating “as soon as possible”. “We are ready, we want this to happen, we are not in the business of aggravating or creating situations, we want this issue to be clarified,” he said.

Published in Dawn, September 13th, 2022