Iran’s nuclear materials remain buried beneath the ruins of facilities bombed in recent attacks, Iran’s foreign minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi said.

Speaking during his visit to Cairo, Mr Araghchi confirmed that no agreement has been reached regarding international inspections.

The Atomic Energy Organisation of Iran is currently assessing whether the nuclear materials can be accessed and in what condition they are in.

Once the assessment is complete, a report will be submitted to the Supreme National Security Council, which will determine the next steps based on national security considerations.

Mr Araghchi stated that, under the agreement signed with the International Atomic Energy Agency on Tuesday, no inspections have taken place, nor has any consensus been reached to allow them.

He stated that the accord recognises that cooperation with the agency must occur under new conditions shaped by security concerns and recent legislation passed by the Iranian parliament.

He added that the agreement would remain valid only as long as no hostile actions are taken against Iran, including the activation of the so-called “snapback” mechanism to reinstate UN sanctions.

If triggered, Mr Araghchi warned, “the agreement would no longer be valid”, and Iran would respond accordingly.

Mr Araghchi also reiterated Iran’s position to its European counterparts that neither military action nor the snapback mechanism will resolve the nuclear issue, warning that such measures would only escalate tensions.

The agreement signed in Cairo on Tuesday aims to establish a new framework for cooperation following Israeli and U.S. attacks on Iranian nuclear facilities in June.

(Xinhua/NAN)