Iranian Nuclear Facility Security Officer Allegedly Harassed The IAEA Female Inspectors

JAKARTA - Iranian security forces are said to have made female International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) inspectors remove clothes and then touch them inappropriately at Iran's Natanz nuclear facility.

At least four separate incidents of harassment were reported since early June, one diplomat quoted The Jerusalem Post of The Wall Street Journal as September 14, while another diplomat said there were five to seven recent incidents reported in recent weeks.

"What I understand is, there is touch in different places, sensitive places and so on", a diplomat told the paper.

A paper circulated by the US among IAEA members ahead of this week's board meeting of IAEA member states demands an end to the behavior.

"The harassment against IAEA inspectors is completely unacceptable, and we strongly urge you to make clear in your national statement at the Board meeting, that such behavior is unfortunate and must end immediately, and the Council must take appropriate action if further incidents are reported", according to the report.

The IAEA confirmed to The Wall Street Journal that the incident had taken place at the Iranian nuclear facility, without providing details. The IAEA described incidents involving its inspectors in Iran as unacceptable.

"The Agency immediately and decisively raised this issue with Iran to explain very clearly and unequivocally, security-related incidents involving Agency staff are unacceptable and should not happen again", the IAEA said.

"Iran has provided explanations regarding strengthened security procedures, following the incident at one of their facilities. As a result of this exchange between the Agency and Iran, there have been no further incidents", the IAEA continued.

Meanwhile, Iran's Ambassador to the IAEA Kazem Gharibabadi, said on Twitter: "Security measures at nuclear facilities in Iran are, naturally, being tightened. IAEA inspectors are gradually making new rules and regulations".

This is not the first time Iran has faced allegations of abuse against IAEA inspectors. In 2019, a female inspector was detained at the airport and her travel documents were taken from Tehran. Iran claimed at the time he had traces of the explosives and later released him.

Another incident of the alleged abuse occurred before nuclear negotiations began in 2013 before the 2015 JCPOA nuclear deal was signed, according to The Wall Street Journal.