Tehran, Dec 13 (IANS): Kazem Gharibabadi, Iran's permanent representative to Vienna-based international organisations, urged the UN nuclear watchdog to remain "impartial" regarding Tehran's nuclear activities.

In a statement on Saturday, Gharibabadi said there have been pressures from the US on the International Atomic Energy Organization (IAEA) over Iran's nuclear program, reports Xinhua news agency.

Despite these pressures, "the Agency shall remain independent, professional and impartial", he was quoted as saying.

"We should all reject these pressures which are detrimental to the interests of the whole international community," he noted.

On Friday, Gharibabadi said the IAEA's "sole role is to monitor and verify the voluntary nuclear-related measures (by Iran) as detailed in the JCPOA (the 2015 international nuclear deal) and to provide regular updates in this regard".

IAEA "has no right to assess the Iranian nuclear work", he added.

His remarks came in response to the recent comments by the IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi, who said that Iran should not follow through on threats to increase uranium enrichment and throw out inspectors.

Iran has reduced its commitments under the agreement called the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) in response to the US' withdrawal from the deal in 2018.

In reaction to the US' withdrawal and in response to Europe's sluggishness in facilitating Iran's banking transactions and oil exports, Tehran has been gradually moving away from its nuclear commitments since May 2019.