The United States Department of State has warned Iran on Thursday that its dismantling of 27 surveillance cameras of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) jeopardizes the return to the nuclear agreement.
“If confirmed, the reports that Iran plans to reduce transparency with the IAEA (…) are extremely regrettable,” a spokeswoman said.
“These actions would be counterproductive and could complicate our efforts to return to a full implementation of the JCPOA”, the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, from which the US withdrew unilaterally under the presidency of Donald Trump (2017-2021).
Even so, the office has assured that it will continue to work towards a full reinstatement of the JCPOA in accordance with the negotiations that have been taking place in Vienna since last year.
“At this time, a return (to the nuclear treaty) would continue to achieve our most important and urgent non-proliferation objectives, and would be in line with our national security interests,” the spokeswoman explained.
“As long as that is our assessment, we will continue to seek an agreement for the mutual restoration” of the agreement, he added.
Iran dismantled in the last hours 27 IAEA surveillance cameras in different nuclear facilities in the country after condemning a resolution against him, adopted on Wednesday by the Board of Governors of the organization at the behest of the United States, the United Kingdom, France and Germany.
“Iran’s initial response has been (…) threatening future nuclear provocations and reducing transparency,” Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in a statement on Thursday.
They are key to verifying the progress of the Iranian nuclear program
The resolution criticized the authorities of the Islamic Republic for their lack of transparency towards inspectors international.
“The dismantling of the cameras is a serious challenge to our ability to continue working there and to confirm that their statements under the JCPOA are correct,” IAEA director Rafael Grossi said on Thursday.
The surveillance cameras of this UN agency are key to verifying the progress of Iran’s nuclear program.
In a matter of a few weeks, between three or four, Grossi has warned, the inspectors will no longer be able to reconstruct the evolution of the Iranian nuclear program.
An image of the director of the IAEA, Rafael Grossi. EFE/EPA/CHRISTIAN BRUNA
Iran has been negotiating since last year with the United States and five other powers to restore the pact nuclear power, which provides for significant limitations on the country’s nuclear program in exchange for the lifting of international sanctions.
Las talks have been suspended since last Marchwith no agreement in sight.
France, Germany and the UK urge Iran to end its “nuclear escalation”
The dismantling of the cameras means that the IAEA will not be able to verify that Tehran’s nuclear program is solely for peaceful purposes, as the Islamic Republic authorities maintain.
This verification capability is a essential condition for the United States to accept a return to the nuclear treaty.
Hours later, France, Germany and the UK have urged Iran to end its “nuclear escalation” and “urgently” conclude the agreement to return to the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action that is on the dialogue table.
In a joint statement, the governments of the three European countries have demanded that Iran “resume the application of the Additional Protocol and all monitoring and verification measures under the JCPOA, to put an end to its nuclear escalation and urgently conclude, while it is still possible , the agreement to return to the PAGC that is on the table today”.