Iran's nuclear materials are "under the rubble of attacks", the country's Foreign Minister has claimed, as Tehran announced a new cooperation framework with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) following strikes on its nuclear facilities.

Speaking on the evening of September 11 during a special news programme on state television IRIB, Abbas Araghchi defended Iran's nuclear cooperation agreement with the IAEA, saying Tehran should not fear negotiations despite ongoing tensions with European powers over sanctions relief.

When addressing concerns about Iran's nuclear materials, Araghchi noted: "I must mention that in the field of Iran's nuclear materials, no new development has occurred," before adding pointedly: "Our nuclear materials are under the rubble of attacks."

The Foreign Minister stressed that Iran's cooperation with the IAEA remains entirely independent of Britain, France and Germany's conditions, stating: "Our cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency is a completely independent matter and has no connection with the conditions set by the European troika."

He noted that consultations with the IAEA had begun even before European demands were made, adding: "Even before they raised such conditions, we had started our consultations with the [Atomic] Agency. Although developments and attacks occurred and our nuclear centres were targeted by [US] bombardment, cooperation with the Agency has both benefits and obligations for us."

Araghchi outlined the continuing legal and political dispute between Iran and the European troika over the snapback mechanism, explaining: "At certain points, one of our main disagreements with them was the so-called 'snapback' mechanism - a mechanism they constantly threatened to use. We - not only Iran but also Russia and China - believed they had no such right."

The minister detailed how this disagreement has been extensively documented through correspondence with the UN Security Council president and letters from Russian and Chinese foreign ministers. "This is essentially a legal and political dispute that continues. In our belief, they fundamentally have no such right," he stated.

When European powers proposed conditions for extending UN Resolution 2231, Iran firmly rejected them. "These conditions were neither accepted by us, nor did we fundamentally recognise such a right for them, nor were their conditions realistic and reasonable; moreover, they were incompatible with our national interests," Araghchi explained.

He confirmed that Iran's UN mission in New York continues intensive consultations with Russian and Chinese representatives and other Security Council members on this matter, stressing: "Therefore, we never gave credence to their conditions."

The Foreign Minister provided detailed insight into the new cooperation framework established with the IAEA following attacks on Iranian nuclear facilities. "In the new circumstances, previous cooperation can no longer continue in the same manner," he explained, citing two fundamental reasons: field changes resulting from US and Israeli attacks on nuclear facilities and legislation passed by Iran's parliament requiring government compliance.

He described the negotiation process: "These negotiations led to a visit by the Agency's Deputy Director General to Tehran and subsequently sending a delegation from our side to Vienna. Negotiations continued and a text was prepared that was about 10 to 20% incomplete. Finally, it was decided that negotiations would continue in a third location between myself and Mr Grossi. This process concluded in Cairo with the signing of an agreement that defines a new framework for cooperation."

Araghchi outlined five critical aspects of the Cairo agreement: The Agency has accepted that the attack on Iran's nuclear facilities was an illegal action and conflicts with international law, the UN Charter, and the Agency's statute. The Agency has formally confirmed that new conditions have emerged and therefore the type of cooperation cannot be the same as before and must be defined within a new framework.

The Agency has accepted that the law passed by the Islamic Parliament is binding for the Islamic Republic of Iran and new cooperation must be conducted within that framework. All matters must be pursued and implemented through Iran's Supreme National Security Council.

According to Araghchi, the Agency has accepted that there is a difference between bombed facilities and facilities that were not attacked, and each has its own specific conditions.

Regarding the Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant, Araghchi explained the complex process required for fuel replacement: "For example, regarding the Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant, the time for fuel replacement has arrived."

Regarding bombed facilities, he stated: "Currently no action is taken by the Agency until Iran conducts a series of environmental and safety measures at these facilities."

The Iranian Foreign Minister was emphatic about the current status of inspections at bombed facilities: "Therefore, as you can observe, currently not only has no inspection been conducted, but even no agreement for conducting it has been reached."