Speaking before the Board of Governors on Wednesday, Director General Rafael Grossi said inspections and design information verifications have been conducted at multiple sites in Tehran, in accordance with a September agreement signed in Cairo.
“Since then, Iran has facilitated access to the Agency for inspections and design information verification, with advance notice, at almost all unaffected facilities in Tehran. This is welcome,” he said, following the presentation of his quarterly report on the NPT Safeguards Agreement with Iran.
Iran had earlier reported those inspections, with Foreign Ministry Spokesman Esmail Baghaei saying earlier this month that inspectors from the had visited some nuclear sites as per the country’s NPT obligations.
Grossi, however, said further engagement is required to restore full access at facilities damaged in the US-Israeli attacks.
“Though I note Iran’s cooperation on inspections at a number of facilities, further constructive engagement is needed. I urge Iran to facilitate the full and effective implementation of safeguards activities in accordance with its NPT Safeguards Agreement, and I reiterate my disposition to work with Iran on this matter.”
He said the status of Iran’s inventories of low-enriched uranium (LEU) and high-enriched uranium (HEU) must be addressed urgently.
“As I have already said, the establishment of the current status of Iran’s inventories of LEU and HEU needs to be addressed urgently. The Agency’s five-month-long lack of access to this nuclear material means that its verification - according to standard safeguards practice - is long overdue.”
Under the Cairo agreement, Iran and the agreed to develop a new mechanism for inspecting damaged nuclear sites--an unprecedented situation in the ’s history.
However, the process has been effectively suspended following the attempt by the European parties to the 2015 deal to activate the so-called snapback mechanism to restore lifted UN sanctions just before the expiration of the 10-year accord.
In Iran, there has recently been heavy criticism of the ’s conduct, including its accusations that Iran has not cooperated adequately with the Agency, which helped the US and Israel in their attempts to justify their aggression against the country.
The ’s failure even to condemn the US-Israeli strikes has further fueled criticism of the Agency, leading to widespread calls for Iran to sever cooperation with the entirely and withdraw from the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT).
Iran’s decision to remain in NPT ‘wise’
Responding to reporters after the board meeting, Grossi described Iran’s decision to remain within the NPT framework as “wise” and expressed his expectation that cooperation would continue.
Addressing efforts by the US and its European allies to adopt a censure resolution at the Board of Governors (BoG) meeting, he said the is not seeking any member state to draft such a resolution, insisting that the focus should remain on the Agency’s core mandate under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.
He also said the must take into account Iran’s newly enacted law governing inspection procedures, a parliamentary measure ratified in the wake of the June attacks that suspended all cooperation with the beyond the NPT safeguards agreement until the security of Iran’s nuclear facilities is guaranteed.
Iran has accused the United States and three European states of attempting to politicize the Board of Governors with a planned resolution, warning that such a move would inevitably harm Iran- cooperation.
On November 16, Deputy Foreign Minister for Legal and International Affairs Kazem Gharibabadi said Tehran will carry out a “fundamental review” of its approaches if the Board of Governors adopts a new resolution against the country.
Press TV