ERBIL, Kurdistan Region of Iraq – The head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI) on Wednesday dismissed allegations touted by the United Nations’ nuclear watchdog that Tehran is not complying with safeguards, with the international body this week mulling the issuing of a resolution condemning Iran's failure to cooperate.

The UN’s International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) is currently holding a week-long Board of Governors meeting in Vienna to discuss Iran’s nuclear program, coming after the body released a report that accused Tehran of “less than satisfactory” cooperation with its inspectors, particularly relating to the discovery of nuclear material previously discovered at undeclared sites.

Speaking at the opening of the session in the Austrian capital, IAEA Director-General Rafael Mariano Grossi said that the organization had “found man-made uranium particles at each of three undeclared locations in Iran” during inspections in 2019 and 2020, noting that “Iran has repeatedly either not answered, or not provided technically credible answers to, the [IAEA]’s questions. It has also sought to sanitize the locations, which has impeded Agency verification activities.”

AEOI chief Mohammad Eslami told reporters in Vienna that Grossi’s report was “clearly biased and heavily politicized.”

“The allegation that the Islamic Republic of Iran has failed to comply with the Safeguards Agreement is a big lie, and there is no evidence to support it. Not a single report from IAEA inspectors suggests that Iran has obstructed or opposed their work. Spreading false reports only damages the credibility of an international institution like the IAEA," Eslami said.

In the wake of Grossi’s report, titled “[Non-Proliferation Treaty] Safeguards Agreement with the Islamic Republic of Iran,” the IAEA is mulling issuing a resolution proposed by the US and E3 countries (the United Kingdom, France, and Germany) condemning Iran for failing to comply with the organization’s guidelines.

Iran has previously warned that it could reduce cooperation with the nuclear watchdog should it pass the resolution, with AEOI spokesperson Behrouz Kamalvand saying on state TV that “the IAEA should not expect the Islamic Republic of Iran to continue its broad and friendly cooperation" were the motion to pass.

Iran has also accused the agency of being deceived by Israeli “forged documents” that seek to portray its archfoe in a bad light.

The spat between Western powers and Iran comes ahead of a sixth round of talks between Washington and Tehran scheduled for later this week, with the issue of continued Iranian nuclear proliferation, currently estimated at 60%, having hindered progress in reaching an accord.

Iran’s defense ministry on Wednesday threatened US military bases in the Middle East should the diplomatic stalemate escalate into military action, with US President Donald Trump admitting that he is “less confident” a deal can be secured between the two sides.