Iran Allows IAEA Limited Access to Nuclear Facilities
(Photo : ATTA KENARE/AFP via Getty Images)
Iran says the International Atomic Energy Agency is allowed to monitor and install surveillance cameras in its nuclear facilities to address the agency's concerns. Iranian President Ibrahim Raisi arrives at the parliament in the capital Tehran, to address lawmakers on his budget bill, on January 22, 2023.

Iran collaborates with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in conducting checks on nuclear facilities. The UN nuclear agency Director-General Rafael Grossi said that Tehran would submit to verification and monitoring, he added.

Iran Allows Nuclear Watchdog Access

Last Saturday, the UN nuclear agency and the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI) concurred on working together. This would cover the full cooperation of both agencies that also covers Tehran's rights and obligations as part of the agreement, said the joint statement, as reported by China Daily.

Tehran indicated it would comply with increased access and information to satisfy the conditions like safety issues and uranium traces. These traces were allegedly found in three sites that were off the radar.

Grossi arrived in Tehran last Friday to discuss with officials of the Iranian government, including President Ebrahim Raisi, Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, and AEOI President Mohammad Eslami. Raisi left Tehran and arrived in Vienna to speak at a press conference saying cameras are scheduled to be online at several nuclear sites.

In a previous meeting between Raisi and Grossi, the former expressed that the UN nuclear agency should be professional in dealing with the Iranian nuclear issue. The watchdog head remarked it is a start that could lead back to reinstating the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action. In 2015, Tehran was in the nuclear deal but left later, noted AL Jazeera.

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A representative for the AEOI, Behrouz Kamalvandi, said that Tehran would not allow access by personnel of the UN watchdog. He made it clear that two days of talks did not include personal access was not mentioned, cited Iran International. He added that no new cams would be placed in Iran's nuclear facilities to clarify that it is not part of any deal.

US Sanctions Tehran for Its Nuclear Facilities

One of the sore points is that Israel and US use this issue arbitrarily to sanction the Iranians. Raisi indicated that the US busted the nuclear deal in 2015, not Tehran. There should be honesty on its part when it reports on the status of its nuclear program and compliance with rules on nuclear power.

The Iranian foreign minister spoke about meeting with Grossi, stressing that safety concerns are part of the concerns. Grossi welcomed diplomacy to end a dispute with any means to push the Vienna talk forward for positive gains. More meetings between Tehran officials and the UN nuclear watchdog are scheduled in Iran to secure talks. The lack of any activity on the Iranian side was remarked.

Sources detail the International Atomic Energy Agency has pushed a resolution supported by the US and its EU allies. They want Tehran to submit to a check for uranium traces which is only one of the west's suspicious motives.

The Iranian government called the claims untrue and said its nuclear program was peaceful. Iran has repeatedly rejected such allegations and emphasized the peaceful nature of its nuclear program. Iran agrees with the IEAE to allow cameras placed in nuclear facilities to be operational again. But the watchdog was warned to be impartial and not listen to others.

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