Iran Restricts Access To Monitoring Components Of Its Nuclear Facilities, IAEA: Doesn't Respect Deal

Illustration of Iranian flag. (Wikimedia Commons/Sonia Sevilla)

JAKARTA - The United Nations nuclear watchdog said on Sunday that Iran had failed to fully honor the terms of a deal struck two weeks ago to allow inspectors to monitor components of the country's nuclear facilities.

"The Director General (IAEA) (Rafael Grossi) stressed that Iran's decision not to allow agents access to the TESA Karaj centrifugal component manufacturing workshop contradicts the agreed terms of a joint statement issued on September 12," the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said. in a statement, citing Reuters Monday 27 September.

The September 12 deal, reached on the eve of a meeting of the 35-member IAEA Board of Governors, means Western powers chose not to seek a resolution criticizing Iran at the meeting.

Meanwhile, Iran's envoy to the IAEA said on Monday, the director general's report was inaccurate and went beyond the terms agreed in the joint statement.

"Any decision taken by Iran regarding monitoring equipment, is based only on political considerations rather than legal considerations. And, the (IAEA) agency cannot and should not consider it one of its rights," Kazem Gharibabadi said on Twitter.

A resolution could kill hopes of resuming broader talks about reviving the Iran nuclear deal, as Iran is usually angry at such moves. Meanwhile, Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, who has just come to power and is from a hardline group, has insisted he is ready to return to the negotiating table, but not under Western pressure.

"During the discussions in Tehran & Vienna, Iran pointed out that because the Tessa Karaj Complex is still under security and judicial investigation, the equipment related to this Complex is not included for servicing. That is why the phrase 'identified equipment' has been used in the joint statement," Gharibabadi said.

"Iran from 20-22 September allowed IAEA inspectors, to service the identified agency's monitoring and surveillance equipment, to replace storage media at all required locations in Iran, with the exception of the centrifugal component manufacturing workshop at the TESA Karaj complex," the IAEA statement further said. .

It is known that the workshop fell victim to sabotage in June where one of the four IAEA cameras there was destroyed. Iran has not returned the camera 'data storage media'. The IAEA said in a report this month it had asked Iran to find it and explain it. Under the agreement, the IAEA will replace its surveillance cameras at the facility.