BAKU, Azerbaijan, October 23. Iran vigilantly defends its nuclear facilities and can withstand any threat, the Iranian Vice President and Chairman of the Atomic Energy Organization Mohammad Eslami told reporters following a Cabinet meeting in Tehran on October 23, Trend reports.
According to him, threats to Iran's nuclear facilities have always existed. Nevertheless, Iran's defense and security skills were at a high level.
Tensions have risen recently in the Middle East, mainly between Iran and Israel. There are also opinions about strikes on Iran's nuclear facilities. Certain circles in Iran are considering various options given these tensions.
Meanwhile, in January 2016, Iran and the P5+1 group (the US, Russia, China, the UK, France, and Germany) implemented the Comprehensive Joint Plan of Action concerning Iran’s nuclear program.
In May 2018, the US announced its withdrawal from the deal and reimposed sanctions on Iran.
By the end of 2020, the Iranian parliament decided to pursue a strategic plan in the nuclear sector to counter the sanctions, leading to a suspension of additional steps and the Additional Protocol as per the nuclear agreement.
Consequently, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) faced a reduction in monitoring capabilities by 20–30 percent.