The European Union on Sunday called on Iran to reverse its decision to remove the accreditation of several inspectors from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), responsible for monitoring its nuclear program.
“The EU urges Iran to review its decision without delay,” said a spokesperson for the Twenty-Seven. Brussels, which plays the role of coordinator within the framework of the 2015 nuclear agreement with Iran, known by the acronym JCPOA, is “very concerned,” he added.
“The direct and severe impact of this decision on the agency’s ability to conduct its verification activities, which includes monitoring” of the JCPOA, “is particularly worrying,” he said. Iran has withdrawn the accreditation of several inspectors from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) responsible for monitoring its nuclear program, the UN body announced on Saturday, condemning an “unprecedented” gesture.
Today, Iran informed IAEA Director General of its decision to withdraw the designation of several experienced Agency inspectors igned to conduct verification activities in Iran under the NPT Safeguards Agreement. @RafaelMGrossi full statement: https://t.co/MdZyoiUmCp
— IAEA – International Atomic Energy Agency ⚛️ (@iaeaorg) September 16, 2023
With this measure, which comes after another recent case, “Iran has removed a third of the central group” of experts, which “directly and drastically affects” the ability of the IAEA to carry out its mission and guarantee the peaceful nature of nuclear activities, its director general Rafael Grossi regretted on Saturday.
The eight inspectors would be French and German
According to Iranian media and a Western diplomat, eight inspectors are involved, all French or German. The Islamic Republic explained that it had taken this measure in response to the warning launched this week by the United States and the European countries of the E3 group (France, Germany and the United Kingdom), during the Board of Governors meeting in Vienna, headquarters of the IAEA.
Iran has gradually freed itself from the commitments made under the 2015 agreement, in reaction to the withdrawal from the United States decided in 2018 by President Donald Trump. This pact was supposed to limit Iran’s atomic activities in exchange for a lifting of international sanctions. Of the discussions held in Vienna by the various stakeholders to revive it have failed last year.