Iran began barring UN inspectors from its nuclear sites over the weekend, just days after the Biden administration unfroze $6 billion as part of a negotiated prisoner swap.
The blocking of around a third of nuclear inspectors to the country has been described as “unprecedented” by the head of the UN nuclear watchdog, Rafael Grossi. It also follows concerns raised by the UK, France and Germany about Iran’s non-compliance in its nuclear programme.
In a rare statement, Rafael Grossi, director-general of the IAEA, said that he was informed by Iran of the move earlier Saturday. The lack of cooperation will damage the organization’s ability to “provide credible assurances that nuclear material and activities in Iran are for peaceful purposes,” said Grossi, urging Iran to reconsider the move.
“I strongly condemn this disproportionate and unprecedented unilateral measure which affects the normal planning and conduct of agency verification activities in Iran and openly contradicts the cooperation that should exist between the agency and Iran,” Grossi stated.
“This profoundly regrettable decision by Iran is another step in the wrong direction and constitutes an unnecessary blow to an already strained relationship between the IAEA and Iran in the implementation of the NPT Safeguards Agreement,” he added.
The inspectors are in Iran to ensure compliance with the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons. Mr. Grossi acknowledged that under the NPT, Iran is permitted to veto individual inspectors it does not agree with. But the IAEA chief said Tehran‘s latest move is unwarranted.
“This profoundly regrettable decision by Iran is another step in the wrong direction and constitutes an unnecessary blow to an already strained relationship between the IAEA and Iran in the implementation of the NPT Safeguards Agreement,” he added.
Grossi said the inspectors in question “have conducted essential verification work at the enrichment facilities in Iran which are under Agency safeguards.”
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also denounced Iran’s decision: “Israel is not surprised by Iran’s moves, which prove it is violating all its commitments to the international community and intends to arm itself with nuclear weapons,” the Prime Minister’s Office said in the statement, which was issued on Rosh Hashanah (the Jewish new year), an atypical step that underlined the gravity with which Netanyahu evidently regards the Iranian move.
“The prime minister reiterates that Israel will do everything needed to defend itself against this threat,” the statement added.
Responding to the IAEA, Iran’s foreign ministry linked the move to what it said was an attempt by the United States and three European countries to misuse the body “for their own political purposes.” The ministry appeared to be referring to Britain, France and Germany, which said Thursday they would maintain sanctions on Iran related to its nuclear and ballistic missile programs.
On Monday, Grossi expressed concern that the international community was losing interest in holding Iran to account over its advancing nuclear program, without naming the countries.
Britain, the United States, France and Germany on Wednesday told the IAEA that Iran must clarify questions over its nuclear programme, including concerns over the monitoring cameras, and the presence of uranium particles enriched to near weapons-grade level.
Tehran in March vowed to reactivate surveillance devices that were disconnected in June 2022 amid deteriorating relations with the West.
