Iranian nuclear: the Atomic Energy Agency calls Tehran to order

Published on: 08/06/2022 – 21:19 The Board of Governors of the International Atomic Energy Agency adopted, on Wednesday evening, in Vienna, by a large majority, a resolution admonishing Tehran for its lack of cooperation, against a backdrop of the escalation of the Iranian nuclear program and the deadlock in negotiations to resuscitate the 2015 agreement. Another warning shot. The Board of Governors of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) adopted, on Wednesday June 8, in Vienna, by a large majority, a resolution formally calling Iran to order for its lack of cooperation, have diplomatic sources told AFP. The text tabled by the United States and the E3 (United Kingdom, France and Germany) is the first criticizing Tehran to be voted on by the UN agency since June 2020, against a backdrop of escalation. Iran’s nuclear program and stalled negotiations to resuscitate the 2015 deal. It was approved by 30 members, with only Russia and China voting against, according to two diplomats. Three countries also abstained (India, Libya, Pakistan). This resolution urges Iran to “cooperate” with the UN body, which deplored in a recent report the absence of “technically credible” answers concerning traces of enriched uranium found at three undeclared sites. “It is essential that Iran provide all the information and documents deemed necessary by the IAEA to clarify and resolve these issues”, insisted the American ambassador Laura Holgate, during the course discussions preceding the vote. “We are not taking these measures to aggravate the confrontation for political purposes. We are not looking for such an escalation”, but simply “credible explanations” to finally close this file, she said. added in response to criticism from Moscow and Beijing. Tehran has already retaliated by unplugging, on Wednesday, cameras installed by the IAEA to monitor its activities. mic (OIEA), Behrouz Kamalvandi, who went to a site to observe the shutdown of the devices, warned that “other measures were being considered”. “Iran has no hidden nuclear activities nor unreported sites. It is a question (on the part of the West) of maintaining maximum pressure “on the Islamic Republic, said Mohammad Eslami, head of the AEOI, quoted by the official agency Irna. With AFP