Iran Blocks a Third of International Atomic Energy Agency Inspectors from Nuclear Sites
Iran has prohibited approximately a third of the International Atomic Energy Agency’s (IAEA) most experienced inspectors from overseeing nuclear sites in the country, according to a statement by the UN watchdog group on Saturday. Rafael Grossi, the director-general of the IAEA, criticized the move as unprecedented and warned that it would complicate the inspection of Iran’s nuclear program.
The lack of cooperation from Iran will harm the organization’s ability to provide credible assurances about the peaceful nature of Iran’s nuclear activities, Grossi emphasized. He called on Iran to reconsider its decision, stating that it contradicted the necessary cooperation between the IAEA and Iran.
In response to the development, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu issued a statement denouncing Iran’s actions. Netanyahu will be traveling to the United States, where he will address the UN General Assembly and raise concerns about Iran’s nuclear program. The Prime Minister’s Office reiterated Israel’s commitment to defending itself against the threat posed by Iran’s pursuit of nuclear weapons.
Iran’s foreign ministry responded to the IAEA’s statement, alleging that the move was a response to Western countries’ politicization of the agency. The ministry’s spokesperson had previously warned about the consequences of such political abuses.
Last week, confidential reports from the UN nuclear watchdog revealed that Iran had made no progress on several outstanding nuclear issues, including the installation of additional cameras to monitor their nuclear program. The IAEA also noted that Iran’s total stockpile of enriched uranium remained significantly above the limit set in the 2015 nuclear accord.
Tensions between Iran and the international community have been escalating, with concerns growing over Iran’s advancing nuclear program. Efforts to revive the 2015 nuclear deal have been unsuccessful thus far.
It is important to note that Iran has consistently denied any intention of developing nuclear weapons and maintains that its nuclear activities are purely for peaceful purposes.