The flag of the IAEA flies in front of its headquarters during an IAEA Board of Governors meeting in Vienna on Feb. 6, 2023. (AP)

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Nasser Kanaani said on Monday that Iran intends to maintain its collaboration with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and has no intentions of reducing bilateral engagement.

This commitment remains unchanged, despite the decision to withdraw several IAEA experts from Iranian nuclear facilities.

The IAEA announced on Saturday that Tehran had opted to revoke the status of certain highly experienced inspectors engaged in verification tasks within the framework of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) safeguards agreement. The IAEA expressed its disapproval of this action, while Tehran argued that it was permissible under the terms of the agreement.

"We do not set any limits for cooperation and constructive interaction with the Agency based on the Safeguard Agreement, and we will continue this cooperation by emphasizing the neutrality of the Agency," Kanaani was quoted by Iranian news agency ISNA as telling a press briefing.

The spokesperson also stated that Iran and the IAEA would persist in their collaboration in accordance with the comprehensive safeguards agreement.

What is the NPT?

In 1968, the NPT was signed and officially enforced in 1970, initially designating only five nations—the Soviet Union (later succeeded by Russia), the US, the UK, France, and China—as possessing nuclear weapons, thereby discouraging the emergence of additional nuclear-armed states.

These five nations committed to refraining from transferring nuclear weapons or aiding in their development to other countries.

Other states that later became signatories to the treaty pledged not to acquire or manufacture nuclear weapons.