Iran: The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) chief Mr. Rafael Grossi has criticised Iran for barring several of its most experienced inspectors from monitoring the country’s programme. The UN nuclear watchdog condemned Iran’s “disproportionate and unprecedented” move to bar multiple inspectors assigned to the country, hindering its oversight of Tehran’s atomic activities.
Iran’s move is a response to a call led by the United States, Britain, France, and Germany at the IAEA’s Board of Governors this week for Tehran to cooperate immediately with the agency on issues including explaining uranium traces found at undeclared sites. Mr. Grossi stated that he believed Iran had overreacted.
“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,” the IAEA chief said in a statement.
The statement came amid longstanding tensions between Iran and the agency, which is tasked with monitoring a nuclear programme that Western nations have long suspected is aimed at eventually developing a nuclear weapon. The IAEA noted that Iran had told it that it would bar “several” inspectors without giving a number.
“These inspectors are among the most experienced agency experts with unique knowledge in enrichment technology. With today’s decision, Iran has effectively removed about one third of the core group of the agency’s most experienced inspectors designated for Iran,” the agency noted.
Iran’s Foreign Ministry linked the move to what it said was an attempt by the US and three European countries to misuse the body “for their own political purposes.”
TOP PICKS | Putin & N Korea’s leader exchange rifles as gifts
