VIENNA: Iranian authorities are withdrawing the accreditation of more International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) inspectors for inspections of nuclear facilities in the country. This significantly limits the IAEA’s ability to monitor uranium enrichment in Iran, IAEA chief Rafael Grossi announced on Saturday night at the authority’s headquarters in Vienna. An inspector’s accreditation had already been revoked. The team has now shrunk by a third. Grossi did not provide the total number of inspectors.
“I condemn this disproportionate and unprecedented unilateral measure in the strongest possible terms,” Grossi said. “This highly regrettable decision by Iran is yet another step in the wrong direction.” The agency will no longer be able to credibly ensure that nuclear materials and activities in Iran serve only peaceful purposes. He called on the country’s leadership to reconsider and review these measures.
The move followed Thursday’s decision by Germany, France and Britain not to lift existing sanctions against Iran over its nuclear program. In a statement, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Nasser Kanaani accused the West of wanting to sabotage cooperation between the Islamic Republic and the IAEA. The ministry spokesperson emphasized that the withdrawal of inspectors’ accreditation was legal. According to Iranian news agency Fars, there were eight inspectors from Germany and France.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said this proves once again that Iran “is violating all its obligations to the international community and intends to acquire nuclear weapons.” Israel “will do whatever is necessary to protect itself from this threat.” Netanyahu wanted to travel to the US on Sunday night, among other things, to give a speech to the UN General Assembly. In the past, he had used this forum to urgently warn against Iran arming itself with nuclear weapons.
In a 2015 nuclear deal, Tehran committed to sharply restricting uranium enrichment and allowing strict IAEA controls. The objective was to prevent the construction of nuclear weapons. In return, many sanctions against Iran were lifted. Since the US, under then-President Donald Trump, withdrew from the pact in 2018, Tehran has gradually broken its commitments and, among other things, started producing highly enriched uranium.