Thursday’s U.N. Atomic Watchdog Agency said that Iran had begun to remove 27 cameras that monitor its nuclear activities. This could make it difficult for international inspectors to get a clear view of Tehran’s uranium enrichment process.
This action could be a “fatal blow” for efforts to revive the 2015 nuclear agreement that was meant to stop Iran from developing nuclear weapons.
Grossi stated that “this, of course, presents a serious challenge for our ability to continue to work there,” and added that Iran had told the IAEA in a “succinct”, statement.
Grossi reported that Iran had in mind to take out the majority of cameras and other monitoring equipment installed under the 2015 nuclear deal between Tehran and the world powers. Grossi stated that Iran could use centrifuges for uranium enrichment in other countries if there were no cameras.
Iran made the decision after the IAEA’s 35 member nations board of governors voted Wednesday night to censure Iran for failing to give “credible” explanations regarding the origins and fate of the nuclear material discovered at three unreported sites. It received overwhelming support and was opposed only by China and Russia.
Iran claimed it had shut down two U.N cameras before the vote and threatened to take more measures. It accused the IAEA, accusing Tehran of not acknowledging its “goodwill” with the agency. Grossi said that Iran didn’t make a public announcement regarding the removal of cameras.
Antony Blinken, Secretary of State, stated that Iran should have offered more cooperation to the IAEA following the censure vote. Instead, he threatened “further nuke provocations and further reductions in transparency.”
In a statement, Blinken stated that such actions would only make it more difficult to get the 2015 nuclear agreement restored. “Another outcome of this path is a deeper nuclear crisis and greater economic and political isolation for Iran. He said that we continue to pressure Iran to choose diplomacy over de-escalation.
According to a statement from Iran’s foreign ministry, the censure resolution by the IAEA board was “political, incorrect and unconstructive.” Iran had previously cooperated constructively with the IAEA, but a recent agency report was “unbalanced”, and the censure resolution would “only weaken” Tehran’s cooperation with that agency, it stated.
Grossi stated this week that Iran is close to having enough enricheduranium to make an atomic bomb.
Laura Holgate, U.S. ambassador, stated Wednesday that the U.S. did not seek to increase tensions by supporting the censure resolution against Iran. However, Washington was bound to hold Tehran responsible for its behavior toward inspectors.
“We are not taking this action in order to escalate a conflict for political ends. We seek no such escalation. This Board received a clear report from the Director General about the status of outstanding issues. She stated that the report made clear that Iran’s insufficient cooperation and the ongoing deficit in verification assurance created by this situation, required that we all act.”
Britain, France, and Germany stated in a statement that Tehran was stopping the IAEA inspectors’ work to determine if Iran’s nukes were peaceful.
The countries stated that Iran’s failure to cooperate poses a threat to the nonproliferation system. It is crucial that the IAEA can fully account for nuclear materials as per its mandate.”
Iran claims its nuclear program is solely for peaceful purposes. Iran didn’t immediately respond to a request to comment on the camera removal.
In exchange for easing U.S. economic sanctions and other international sanctions against Tehran, the 2015 nuclear agreement, also known as JCPOA or Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, placed restrictions on Iran’s nuclear program. Donald Trump, then-President of the United States, pulled the U.S. out of the agreement in 2018, imposed new sanctions, and reimposed existing sanctions. The U.S. and other powers have attempted to revive the agreement in Vienna negotiations since President Joe Biden took office. In recent months, the talks have been stalled.
