Nuclear
Iran turns off two of UN nuclear watchdog’s surveillance cameras: Report
Iran removed two surveillance cameras of the International Atomic Energy Agency from one of its nuclear facilities on Wednesday, state television reported, a move that is likely to raise tensions with the UN nuclear watchdog.
“So far, the IAEA has not only been ungrateful for Iran’s extensive cooperation but has also considered it as a duty. From today, relevant authorities have ordered that surveillance cameras of the Online Enrichment Monitor (OLEM) be shut down,” state TV said.
For the latest headlines, follow our Google News channel online or via the app.
“Iran cannot be cooperative while the IAEA displays unreasonable behavior. We hope the agency will come to its senses and respond with cooperation with Iran,” Iran’s Atomic Energy Organization spokesperson Behrouz Kamalvandi told state TV.
The United States, Britain, Germany, and France angered Iran by submitting to the IAEA’s governing board a draft resolution criticizing Iran for not fully answering the watchdog’s questions on uranium traces at undeclared sites.
The resolution text, seen by Reuters and little changed from a draft circulated last week, will be debated and voted on at this week’s quarterly meeting of the IAEA’s 35-nation Board of Governors.
Several diplomats said the resolution was likely to pass easily despite Iranian warnings of retaliation and consequences that could further undermine already stalled talks on rescuing Tehran’s 2015 nuclear deal with world powers. Iran’s ally Russia, one of the powers, opposes such a resolution.
The Vienna-based IAEA declined to comment.
Since a US walkout from the nuclear deal in 2018 under then-President Donald Trump and the reimposition of US sanctions against Iran, Tehran has stepped up uranium enrichment, a process that could yield fuel for atomic bombs. Iran says its nuclear designs are wholly peaceful.
The aim of the struggling talks is to bring both Iran and the United States back into full compliance with the deal.
Read more: IAEA at ‘very difficult juncture’ with Iran on unanswered queries about nuclear sites
Also Read
-
IAEA chief arrives in Israel for talks amid tensions over Iran’s nuclear activities
The director of the UN's atomic watchdog arrived in Israel on Thursday and is set to hold talks with top officials.The visit comes as Israel expresses ... Middle East -
US says Iran’s demands to lift IRGC sanctions behind failure to revive nuclear deal
The US told the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) on Tuesday that Iran’s demands to lift sanctions off their Revolutionary Guards were behind ... World News -
Iran still haunted by dealings with infamous nuclear smuggler: Report
The world’s most infamous nuclear smuggler is still haunting Iran, with diplomats weighing whether to censure the nation over mysterious uranium ... Middle East -
Israel says Iran used stolen UN watchdog documents to evade nuclear probes
Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett accused Iran on Tuesday of stealing internal UN nuclear watchdog reports under a plan to prepare ways of ... Middle East -
Iran calls IAEA report on undeclared nuclear sites ‘one sided’
Iran said Tuesday a report by the UN nuclear watchdog on undeclared nuclear material found at three sites was “not fair.”“Unfortunately, this report ... Middle East -
IAEA at ‘very difficult juncture’ with Iran on unanswered queries about nuclear sites
Talks with Iran aimed at ending a long standoff on explaining the origin of uranium particles found at apparently old but undeclared sites are at “a ... World News -
IAEA still hopes for Iran deal but worried about undisclosed nuclear activities
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)’s chief said on Tuesday he is still hopeful for a deal between Iran and world powers to revive the 2015 ... Middle East
