By Francois Murphy

VIENNA (Reuters) – Iran must stop denying the U.N. nuclear watchdog access to a workshop making centrifuge parts as agreed two weeks ago or face diplomatic retaliation at the agency’s Board of Governors within days, the United States said on Monday.

One of the four cameras from International Atomic Energy Agency was damaged in an apparent sabotage attack in June. The workshop in TESA Karaj makes parts for centrifuges that are used to enrich uranium. Iran removed them and the destroyed camera’s footage is missing https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/iaea-pressures-iran-fate-talks-nuclear-deal-hangs-balance-2021-09-07.

TESA Karaj was among the sites where Iran allowed IAEA inspectors to access IAEA monitoring equipment. They also agreed to replace damaged memory cards as soon as they filled up with data, such as footage. The Sept. 12 accord helped avoid a diplomatic escalation https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/iaea-chief-iran-talks-before-showdown-with-west-2021-09-12 between Iran and the West.

According to a statement by the U.S. to the IAEA’s 35 member countries Board of Governors Monday, “We are deeply concerned that Iran has refused to allow the IAEA access necessary to service its monitoring devices as agreed in the Sept. 12 Joint Statement between IAEA Iran and Iran.”

The IAEA reported to its member countries on Sunday, stating that Iran had allowed access to site sites in accordance with Sept. 12, but not to the workshop. IAEA inspectors were denied access at Sunday’s IAEA meeting. The plan was to inspect the workshop and to reinstall cameras, if necessary.

Iran’s envoy to the IAEA, Kazem Gharibabadi, said overnight on Twitter (NYSE:) https://twitter.com/Gharibabadi/status/1442253099507326979?s=20 that before the deal with the IAEA, Iran indicated that monitoring equipment at Karaj was “not included for servicing” because of ongoing investigations and Sunday’s report “goes beyond the agreed terms of the JS (Joint Statement)”.

‘WITHOUT FURTHER DELAY’

The European Union told the IAEA board that Iran’s failure to grant the IAEA access to the workshop was “a worrying development, contrary to the Joint Statement reached on 12 September 2021.”

The Board of Governors resolution criticizing Iran could endanger the prospects of indirect negotiations between Iran and the United States in order to restore compliance with 2015 Iran nuclear agreement.

Iran often resents these resolutions. Its news hardline President Ebrahim Rashi said that Iran was willing to negotiate with the United States, but not at Western “pressure.” Hossein Amirabdollahian, Iran’s Foreign Minister, stated Friday that Iran will return to negotiations “very soon”.

According to the U.S., the statement stated: “We ask Iran for the IAEA’s needed access within the shortest possible time.” “If Iran doesn’t do this, we will consult closely with other board members over the next days in order to find a suitable response.”

European Union called Iran to give access without delay.