TEHRAN, 28 November 2021, (TON): Iran has accused the UN’s nuclear agency of bowing to pressure from its Western financiers to “discriminate” against Tehran, as strains persist ahead of new talks to revive the 2015 atomic deal.

Behrouz Kamalvandi, spokesman of the Atomic Energy Organisation of Iran told state television “it’s a reality. The IAEA (International Atomic Energy Agency) doesn’t deal with Iran as it should.”

He argued that organisations such as the IAEA were “under the influence of powerful countries” which “finance them and in exchange apply pressure on them”.

In a phone call with EU diplomatic chief Josep Borrel, Iran’s Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian said it would be “possible to reach a favourable agreement” if sanctions are lifted.

He said “we will participate in the Vienna talks in good faith and seriously.”

Tehran wants lifting of sanctions days before Vienna talks

After a mission to Tehran this week, IAEA head Rafael Grossi said his talks with Iranian officials had been “constructive” but “inconclusive”.

Grossi told reporters in Vienna where the IAEA is based “in terms of the substance, we were not able to make progress.”

Kamalvandi said “the Islamic republic was trying to stand up for its rights and to counter the negative image that they (the international community) are trying to fabricate about us.”