On the sidelines of a cabinet meeting on Wednesday, Mohammad Eslami responded to Grossi’s recent warning over Iran’s alleged non-compliance with the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), questioning how the agency could inspect nuclear facilities that had been bombed.

“Our expectation of Mr. Grossi is that he not use such language,” Eslami said, arguing that as head of the IAEA, an organization defined under the United Nations, his duties are clearly outlined in its statute.

Rejecting allegations of non-compliance, he emphasized that all facilities struck in military attacks last June had been registered with the IAEA and were under its supervision. “If our sites were targeted, bombed, and destroyed, what exactly do they want to monitor now?” Eslami asked, calling on the agency to clarify what its legal framework says about such attacks and how they relate to safeguards.

Referring to Western efforts to obstruct Iran’s nuclear progress, Eslami said these actions, particularly by the United States, were deliberate attempts to hinder the technological advancement of other nations.

He added that, like the US, the Iranian nation has a legitimate right to prioritize the development of advanced technologies, including artificial intelligence, nuclear technology, and quantum science.

Eslami also rejected the notion that nuclear technology is limited to weapons, saying Iran is currently exporting nuclear-related products to 50 countries and maintains exports in multiple sectors, including mining, healthcare, food security, environmental protection, and energy.