Eslami: Iran Will Not Yield to Pressure
WANA (Sep 15) – The head of Iran’s Atomic Energy Organization, Mohammad Eslami, stated that Iran will not yield to pressures, calling on members to condemn attacks on Iran’s nuclear facilities, address Iran’s legitimate security concerns, and restore the Agency’s integrity and neutrality.
On Tuesday, during a speech at the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) General Conference, Mohammad Eslami, head of Iran’s Atomic Energy Organization, described recent attacks by the Israeli regime and the United States on Iran’s nuclear facilities as a blatant violation of international law, the UN Charter, and the Agency’s Statute.
He emphasized that these unprecedented actions are directed both against Iran and against the credibility of the Agency and the safeguards system.
Eslami stated that the Agency and the UN Security Council were unable to respond decisively due to U.S. pressure, raising serious questions about the credibility of the safeguards.
Referring to Iran’s extensive cooperation with the Agency and the absence of any evidence of nuclear diversion, he criticized the Agency’s silence in condemning the attacks and described the suspension of inspections as a consequence of military aggression.
The head of Iran’s Atomic Energy Organization explained that Iran remains a member of the NPT and will continue its engagement with the Agency under new arrangements while addressing security concerns.
Eslami further recalled the Western parties’ breaches of the JCPOA and strongly opposed the activation of the “snapback” mechanism by three European countries, calling for the end of UN Security Council Resolution 2231 according to its scheduled timeline on October 18, 2025.
He emphasized that Iran will not yield to pressures and will preserve its nuclear rights.
He expressed appreciation to countries that have stood with Iran in defending the UN Charter and international principles and called for the formal condemnation of attacks on Iran’s nuclear facilities.
Announcing that Iran has submitted a draft resolution condemning the attacks on its nuclear facilities, Eslami said: “This draft is fully based on protecting the Agency’s mission, in full compliance with its Statute, and adheres to the fundamental principles of international law and the UN Charter. Considering the professional and principled positions adopted by many independent member states of the Agency, we expect that the IAEA General Conference, which represents the collective will of all member states, will take appropriate action in response to these illegal attacks on nuclear facilities.”
He stressed that it is the responsibility of the Conference to resist any attempt to normalize or even legitimize such illegal attacks and to firmly uphold the shared fundamental principles of the international community as well as the statutory mission of the Agency.
Eslami’s Speech at the IAEA General Conference on September 15, 2025. Social media/ WANA News Agency
The Full Text of Eslami’s Speech:
“Mr. President, esteemed attendees,
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) is at an extremely sensitive historical juncture. The Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) and the integrity of international law are under serious threat as a result of the aggressive actions of the Israeli regime and the United States of America.
In the early hours of Friday, 13 June 2025, the Israeli regime committed a major crime and carried out a military attack against my country. This attack—occurring just hours after the adoption of a Board of Governors resolution—targeted nuclear facilities under IAEA safeguards in Iran.
It involved the assassination of nuclear scientists and senior military commanders along with their families and resulted in the martyrdom and injury of thousands of ordinary Iranian citizens, causing extensive financial damage to the honorable Iranian nation.
On 22 June 2025, the United States of America, a permanent member of the Security Council and a guardian of the NPT, illegally joined this aggression. In a clear violation of international law, the UN Charter, and the IAEA Statute, it attacked Iran’s safeguarded nuclear facilities and inflicted severe damage on Iran’s nuclear industry.
The entire world witnessed that the valiant armed forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran crushed the arrogance and audacity of these criminals and delivered decisive and unforgettable responses to the Israeli regime and the United States. It is clear that should they commit such acts again, even stronger responses will be delivered.
Knowledge and the nuclear industry in Iran cannot be destroyed by military operations or assassination
Iran’s enemies should understand that science and technology, and Iran’s nuclear knowledge and industry, are deeply rooted and cannot be destroyed through military operations, assassination, or aggression. The aim of the criminal actions of the genocidal and child-killing Zionist regime is not merely to destroy Iran’s nuclear facilities; it has always sought to undermine the path of diplomacy and peace.
This regime has not joined the NPT, preventing the realization of a nuclear-weapon-free Middle East, and continues to expand its nuclear weapons program. Unfortunately, these actions, contrary to international law, are carried out with the support or at least the silence of some Western countries.
This unprecedented act of aggression in the history of the IAEA is in clear violation of Article 2(4) of the UN Charter, the prohibition of aggression under General Assembly Resolution 3314 (1974), and the principles of non-interference and respect for state sovereignty—principles that formed the foundation of the international order after 1945.
The aggressive actions of the United States and Israel also violated numerous resolutions of this General Conference, including Resolutions 443, 444, 533, Decision 13 (2009), paragraphs 1, 3, 4, and 10 of Resolution 381 (1981), and IAEA Resolution 409. The Security Council also recognized the illegality of attacks on safeguarded nuclear facilities in its Resolution 487 (1981).
What is the value of safeguards?
What we witnessed was not only a cowardly and criminal act against Iran, but also a direct aggression against the credibility of the Agency and the integrity of the safeguards system. Despite this, the Board of Governors and the UN Security Council each held two extraordinary sessions, yet due to political pressure from the United States, they were unable to adopt a decisive position against the perpetrators of this crime.
Therefore, one must ask: what is the value of safeguards if safeguarded nuclear facilities can be attacked with impunity? If sincere and good-faith cooperation is met with the assassination of scientists and their innocent families, indiscriminate military attacks on residential areas, and attacks on safeguarded nuclear facilities, then what value does transparency have?
Eslami’s Speech at the IAEA General Conference on September 15, 2025. Social media/ WANA News Agency
The Agency did not condemn illegal actions against Iran
Iran’s cooperation with the Agency has been extensive and consistent. The latest report of the Director General before the aggression (GOV/2025/25)—despite our serious concerns about its content—does not prove any breach of Iran’s safeguards obligations or diversion of nuclear material. The Agency’s report explicitly confirmed that there is no evidence of a nuclear weapons development program in Iran.
Unfortunately, in its so-called comprehensive report, the Director General did not even mention the “final assessment” of 2015 and Board of Governors Resolution GOV/2015/72, in which the Board legally and explicitly closed all past issues. It is as if the Agency completely ignored this resolution. Ironically, the Agency referred to this resolution in a letter to Iran regarding verification activities. If this approach is not unprofessional and biased, then what is it?
Despite our official communications and the submission of a request for the Agency to firmly condemn attacks on Iran’s safeguarded nuclear facilities (as stated in INFCIRC/1301), the Agency did not condemn these illegal actions and failed to protect the integrity of its safeguards system or fulfill its statutory mission. This silence and inaction will remain a stain in the history of the Agency.
Iran remains a member of the NPT
The recent report of the Director General confirms that as a direct result of aggressive actions by the United States and Israel against safeguarded nuclear facilities, inspections and verification activities were suspended. Therefore, it must be emphasized that the main reason for the suspension of inspections and verification activities is the illegal use of force against Iran’s nuclear facilities by the United States and Israel.
Our Parliament, due to national security considerations and in response to the significant change in the security environment caused by these military aggressions, approved the suspension of activities related to IAEA safeguards. This does not mean withdrawal from the NPT. Iran remains a member of the treaty but will continue cooperation with the Agency under new arrangements once the security concerns of the nation and nuclear facilities are addressed.
It must be acknowledged that what happened to my country is unprecedented in the history of safeguards. The safeguards agreement does not anticipate how interactions should continue in extremely critical conditions following aggression and ongoing threats to nuclear facilities and sites.
Therefore, a new definition of safeguards implementation under these conditions must be particularly considered, especially regarding the safety and security of nuclear facilities and personnel. The recent understanding reached between the Agency and Iran was specifically designed to address the exceptional and unprecedented conditions resulting from the aforementioned aggressions.
“Snapback” is null and legally ineffective
The Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) could have served as an example of successful diplomacy, especially for the international community. Iran fully implemented the agreement for one year, and even after the United States unilaterally withdrew from the JCPOA and illegally reinstated sanctions, this agreement was fully executed, as confirmed in fifteen consecutive reports by the Director General.
The Western parties, however, never fulfilled their commitments. Under international law, a party that has not fulfilled its obligations cannot demand the fulfillment of obligations from the other party under the same agreement or treaty.
Today, as the JCPOA approaches its termination date of 18 October 2025, we are once again witnessing attempts—including the illegal and baseless activation of the so-called “snapback” mechanism by three European countries. This substantive and procedural abuse of multilateral mechanisms is not only illegal but also mocks the rule of law, UNSC Resolution 2231, and the JCPOA itself.
The three European countries, which have never fulfilled their JCPOA commitments and remain indebted to the Iranian nation, have no right to free themselves from their role as offenders and demand compliance from Iran. They are notorious for breaking promises and causing harm. Any attempt by these three European countries to reinstate provisions of UN Security Council resolutions that were terminated under Resolution 2231 is null and legally ineffective. Resolution 2231 must expire exactly according to the schedule set for 18 October 2025.
Iran will not yield to pressures and will not compromise its inherent and legitimate rights under the NPT and international law. We call on the international community to oppose these blatant contradictions and to uphold the principles of sovereignty, non-use of force, and the peaceful settlement of disputes.
We call on the international community to demonstrate that no one is above the law. At the same time, while Iran believes in diplomatic and political solutions, it will not succumb to political, psychological, or military pressures. The honorable Iranian nation is determined and united in asserting its rights.
Iran, as a victim, is entitled to claim rights
We sincerely thank those members who, in defending the principles of the UN Charter, have stood up against this unprecedented challenge and stood on the right side of history. We cannot ignore the aggressive actions of some Security Council members, which have dealt a severe blow to the credibility of the non-proliferation regime and cast a heavy shadow over the future of the Agency.
In this crisis, Iran is positioned as a victim entitled to claim rights, not as a criminal in debt. The path forward is clear: condemn attacks on Iran’s safeguarded nuclear facilities, restore respect for international law, address Iran’s legitimate security concerns, and restore the integrity and neutrality of the Agency. Any action short of this not only constitutes a betrayal of the UN Charter and the IAEA Statute but also sets a dangerous precedent, risking the normalization of lawlessness and erosion of the foundations upon which the international order is built.
Iran’s draft resolution is based on protecting the Agency’s mission
In this regard, Iran has submitted a draft resolution aimed at serving the international community. This draft is fully based on protecting the Agency’s mission, in complete compliance with its Statute, and adheres to the fundamental principles of international law and the UN Charter.
Considering the professional and principled positions adopted by many independent member states of the Agency, we expect that the IAEA General Conference, representing the collective will of all member states, will take appropriate action in response to these illegal attacks on nuclear facilities.
It is the responsibility of the Conference to resist any attempt to normalize or even legitimize such illegal attacks and to firmly uphold the shared fundamental principles of the international community as well as the statutory mission of the Agency. The recent threats by the United States in this regard, political pressure on countries, and instrumentalization of the Agency through various means, including budget pressure, must be opposed and condemned by member states.”
Eslami’s Speech at the IAEA General Conference on September 15, 2025. Social media/ WANA News Agency
