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IAEA 'concerned' over Iran's past nuclear activities

Homa Lezgee
Press TV, Vienna

The International Atomic Energy Agency’s Board of Governors convenes a week-long meeting to discuss monitoring and verification in Iran among other issues.

Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi expressed concern over a “lack of progress” in discussions about the presence of nuclear material in four undeclared locations in Iran.

Iranian ambassador to the IAEA Kazem Gharibabadi says he’s asked the Agency not to use “some unimportant issues dating to around two decades ago” as an excuse to politicize Iran’s case at a time when negotiations are underway to revive the nuclear deal between Iran and world powers, known as the JCPOA.

Grossi acknowledged there’s nothing that indicates there is a danger when it comes to the safeguards related issues, but stressed that the Agency would not stop asking questions.

In his latest report, Grossi also said the Agency’s access to Iranian nuclear facilities has been restricted since the 23rd of February as a result of a parliamentary law that obliges the government to go ahead with enrichment and other nuclear activities and to deny the Agency broader or complementary access beyond the country’s regular safeguards obligations.

Under a temporary agreement between Tehran and the Agency valid until June 24th, the IAEA will continue to collect data at Iran’s key nuclear facilities via its surveillance equipment but will not be able to access that data.

Grossi said an extension of that agreement was becoming increasingly difficult.

Iran has said it will transfer all the collected data to the agency and return to full compliance with the JCPOA after the verifiable removal of all US sanctions.


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