Khamenei: IAEA Lacks Independence

Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei today told a gathering in Tehran of Iranian ambassadors abroad that IAEA lacks independence and is influenced by the US. Khamenie alluded to a recent report by the IAEA director on Iran’s nuclear program as a sign of the agency’s lack of independence.

The IAEA Board of Governors will meet on Monday in Vienna to begin four days of discussion on the Iran report. On three previous occasions, the IAEA had referred Iran’s file to the UN Security Council, resulting in three rounds of UN sanctions against the country. The IEAE Board is expected to once again refer Iran to UNSC for its current nuclear program.

Ayatollah Khamenei reiterated Iran’s resolve to continue with its nuclear program. He accused US, Britain and Israel of spreading “lies” about the Iranian program.