No Disruption in Tehran-IAEA Cooperation

Iran’s cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency has not been disrupted and inspections are carried out as per the safeguards agreements of the Non-Proliferation Treaty, a top nuclear official said. 
Mohammad Eslami, head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran, made the remarks in response to reports about the reduction of IAEA inspections of Iran’s nuclear facilities, IRNA reported. 
The IAEA has reported that the number of examinations fell by 10% in 2022 after Iran ended monitoring arrangements specified under the 2015 nuclear deal with world powers, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action. 
Inspectors “were seriously affected by Iran’s decision,” IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi wrote in a restricted document circulated among diplomats this week, a copy of which was seen by Bloomberg.
Tehran had agreed to stricter monitoring of its nuclear activity under the JCPOA in return for sanctions relief, but rowed back on those commitments when the United States pulled out in 2018 and reimposed tough sanctions. 
Iranian officials maintain, however, that the Islamic Republic’s cooperation with the agency within the framework of the NPT and its safeguards obligations still remains in place. 
The IAEA has raised safeguards questions as well, claiming that uranium particles have been found at three old undeclared sites in Iran. 
The director general has so far rejected Iran’s explanations as uncredible, which led to the passing of two resolutions against the country by the Board of Governors. 
“Iran has yet to clarify and resolve the outstanding safeguards issues,” Grossi wrote in the 116-page annual Safeguards Implementation Report. 
“There is important and significant work ahead of us on this matter,” he added. 
Iran dismisses the allegation, saying the questions are based on fabricated data and relate to cases that had already been closed before the signing of the JCPOA. 
In February, the agency also reported that its inspectors had found uranium particles enriched up to nearly 84%, which Iran rejected, asserting that those where natural fluctuations in purity levels during the process of enrichment rather than intended end product. 
Grossi eventually traveled to Tehran in March for discussions with Iranian officials over the ambiguities, where they agreed on a roadmap to resolve the issues. 
Eslami told reporters on the sidelines of a Cabinet meeting on Wednesday that Iran’s cooperation with the agency is underway based on the March joint statement. 
The statement did not provide details about agreements between Iran and the IAEA, but the director general later said Iran had agreed to allow access to locations and people and reinstall several surveillance cameras, although Iranian outlets later dismissed the remarks. 
In recent weeks, foreign media have reported, citing IAEA officials, that Iran was initially reluctant about the reinstalment of cameras, but later expedited the process.  
Grossi also said in a recent interview that it is important to keep interacting with Tehran, although the chances of Iran returning to the JCPOA are slim. 
Iran and the US began indirect negotiations to revive the nuclear deal in early 2021, but the talks have now been stalled since last August over final differences. 
IAEA-related issues are among the stumbling blocks in the process of negotiations. 
“Probably there could be a return to the negotiating table, but if the interactions between Iran and the agency are seen or assessed as bad and the cooperation is not good, the chances are zero,” Grossi said.
Asked about the director general’s comments, Eslami underlined that the agency is not responsible for the nuclear negotiations, but it is up to the JCPOA parties.
“Grossi has expressed satisfaction with Iran’s cooperation, but what is important is that the IAEA is not our negotiating partner,” he said.