- No inspections from the UN Nuclear watchdog since the war began.
- Teams in Iran had been reduced to a handful, says diplomats.
- No indication of when inspectors may return.
The UN Nuclear Guard Dog said on Friday that it had drawn its last remaining inspectors from Iran as a standoff over their return to the country’s nuclear facilities bombed by the United States and Israel elaborated.
Israel launched its first military strikes in Iran’s nuclear sites in a 12-day war with the Islamic Republic three weeks ago. The International Atomic Energy Inspectors have not been able to inspect Iran’s facilities since then, although IAEA manager Rafael Grossi has said it is his highest priority.
Iran’s parliament has now passed a law to suspend cooperation with IAEA until the security of its nuclear facilities can be guaranteed. While IAEA says Iran has not yet formally informed it about any suspension, it is unclear when the agency’s inspectors will be able to return to Iran.
“An IAEA team of inspectors today traveled safely from Iran to return to the agency’s headquarters in Vienna, after staying in Tehran throughout the recent military conflict,” IAEA said at X.
Diplomats said the number of IAEA inspectors in Iran were reduced to a handful after the war on June 13. Some have also expressed concern about the security of the inspector since the end of the conflict, given harsh criticism of the agency of Iranian officials and Iranian media.
Iran has accused the agency of effectively paving the way for the bomb attack by issuing a damn report on May 31, which led to a decision from the IAEA’s 35-national board council, which declared Iran in violation of its non-proliferation obligations.
IAEA chief Rafael Grossi has said he stands by the report. He has denied that it provided diplomatic coverage for military action.
IAEA will have lectures
Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said on Thursday that Iran remained obliged to the nuclear non-spreading treaty (NPT).
“(Grossi) repeated the crucial importance of IAEA discussing with Iran modalities to resume its indispensable surveillance and verification activities in Iran as soon as possible,” IAEA said.
The US and Israeli military strikes either destroyed or badly damaged Iran’s three uranium enrichment sites. But it was less clear what happened to much of Iran’s nine tonnes of enriched uranium, especially it more than 400 kg enriched for up to 60% purity, a short step from the weapon class.
It is enough, if further enriched, for nine nuclear weapons, according to an IAEA target. Iran says its goals are completely peaceful, but Western powers say there is no civil justification for enriching to such a high level, and IAEA says no country has done so without developing the nuclear bomb.
As a party in NPT, Iran must explain its enriched uranium, which is usually closely monitored by IAEA, the body that enforces NPT and verifies the countries’ statements. But the bombing of Iran’s facilities now has muddied waters.
“We can’t afford it …. The inspection regime is interrupted,” Grossi told a press conference in Vienna last week.
