UN nuclear watchdog returns to Iran
The UN nuclear watchdog has returned to Iran for the first time since US and Israeli strikes targeted Iranian nuclear facilities, The National via Reuters reported on August the 27th.
Iran had previously suspended all co-operation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) after nuclear facilities were the targets of Israeli airstrikes. Tehran has condemned the IAEA for not denouncing the strikes on Iran.
The director general of the IAEA, Rafael Grossi, said: “Now the first team of IAEA inspectors is back in Iran, and we are about to restart [relations with Iran].”
Grossi continued: “When it comes to Iran, as you know, there are many facilities. Some were attacked, some were not.”
On June 13th, Israel launched strikes on several nuclear facilities throughout Iran. As the conflict escalated the US carried out airstrikes on three nuclear sites in Iran, including the Uranium enrichment site at Fordow.
Iran has said the IAEA had given Israel a pretext to begin the conflict, citing a report that claimed Tehran was concealing enriched Uranium. Shortly after the war, the government of Tehran passed a bill limiting the co-operation of Iran with the IAEA.
Grossi has said the talks between Iran and the IAEA are focused on which “practical modalities can be implemented in order to facilitate the restart of our work there.”
The IAEA has called for the continuation of inspections; Iran is obliged to allow these inspections as they are a member of the global nuclear non-proliferation treaty.
Iran was set to resume nuclear talks on July 25th after the E3 – Germany, the UK and France – called for Tehran to resume inspections, or else, Iran would have to face sanctions.
August 26th saw the second round of negotiations between Iran and European officials since the 12-day conflict with Israel jeopardised talks between Iran and the US.
The National via Reuters, Maghrebi.org
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