Stock Groups

IAEA warns that Iran not forthcoming on past nuclear activities -Breaking

[ad_1]

© Reuters. FILEPHOTO: Rafael Grossi, Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency, speaks at a news conference held during the September 13th, 2021 meeting of IAEA Board of Governors in Vienna. REUTERS/Leonhard Foeger/File Photo

BRUSSELS/PARIS, (Reuters) – The head of UN’s atomic watchdog claimed Tuesday that Iran is dragging its feet in providing information on uranium particles discovered at unreported sites. This raises the possibility of a conflict on the matter in June.

Since March talks to revive Iran’s 2015 nuke deal with the world powers were put on hold due to Tehran insisting that Washington eliminate the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, Iran’s elite security force from the U.S. Foreign Terrorist Organization list (FTO).

Although not part of the nuclear agreement, Iran demanded that the International Atomic Energy Agency close its investigation of uranium particles discovered at three sites apparently older than they were declared.

These sites indicate that Iran may have had nukes in Iran that it didn’t declare to the agency.

Iran and U.N. watchdog for nuclear weapons had agreed to a three-month plan, March 5. After a series of exchanges, Rafael Grossi (IAEA Chief) “will attempt to report his conclusion at the June 2022 IAEA Board of Governors meeting.” which starts on June 6.

Diplomats from the West have stated that there are no signs Tehran is giving satisfactory answers to its watchdog.

Grossi stated to the EU parliament that he remains extremely worried about the current situation. Grossi also indicated that Iran was one of his concerns and that it would be difficult for him to believe that the deal can be concluded if there were serious doubts by the IAEA about certain facts that it ought to have.

While I don’t want to send an alarmist message, it is clear that the situation doesn’t look good. Grossi stated via webstream that Iran is not forthcoming with the information we require from them.

Enrique Mora, the EU’s coordinator for Iran nuclear negotiations, arrives in Tehran Tuesday. He has called it the “last bullet” to save the agreement, which includes Russia, China and Britain.

According to sources, Western officials have lost much hope in the possibility of the program being revived. This has forced them to think about how they can limit Iran’s nuclear program while Russia invades Ukraine.

Grossi stated that while we are hopeful of reaching an agreement within a reasonable amount of time, it is important to recognize that there may be no way to know.

[ad_2]