International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Secretary-General Rafael Grossi said that Iran would cooperate in inspections and investigations on the issue of undeclared nuclear material, which was a key issue in nuclear negotiations with Iran. It was announced on the day (local time).
According to Reuters, etc., Iran agreed with the IAEA to support the investigation of nuclear material detected at undeclared locations and reinstall removed surveillance equipment, and Grossi expressed expectations that major progress would be made in the future consultation process. .
Earlier, in a joint statement with the IAEA on the 4th, Iran said it was prepared to provide additional information and access to the IAEA regarding the detection of nuclear material at three undeclared sites.
Regarding the suspicion that nuclear weapon-grade highly enriched uranium was detected in Iran in January, Grossi visited Iran on the 3rd for 2 days and 1 night and met with President Ebrahim Raishi, Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdullah, and Mohamed Eslamy. I met with the head of the Atomic Energy Agency (AEOI).
In a statement after the meeting, Grossi said, “We have agreed with Iran to re-install surveillance equipment (cameras) at Iranian nuclear facilities and to investigate the issue of nuclear material in undeclared locations.”
At the same time, while foreshadowing follow-up talks between the two sides in the future, Iran also said that it had agreed to allow appropriate verification activities and inspections to the IAEA.
Accordingly, the two sides plan to hold a joint technical meeting in Tehran soon to coordinate related details.
“We have an idea,” Grossi said, stressing that the current technical team will soon be traveling to Iran for a joint technical meeting in the future.
In this way, through the joint statement of the two sides announced last week, Iran decided to allow investigations on nuclear materials at undeclared sites, which has been considered a key issue in the nuclear negotiations, and to provide information, which was sufficient to prevent the West from pursuing another sanctions and resolution. Media analyzed.
◇ The main issue of the Iranian nuclear agreement, Iran’s implementation in the future is ‘key’
The issue of nuclear materials in undeclared areas is a major pending issue between the IAEA and Iran, and has been cited as a key issue in talks to restore the nuclear agreement (JCPOA, Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action).
The areas in question were known as Turkuzabad, Mariban and Baramin. This is also the site that Israel has previously pointed out as the site of Iran’s secret nuclear activities.
The Iran nuclear deal is an agreement signed with Iran in 2015 by six countries, including the United States, France and the United Kingdom.
According to the nuclear agreement, the maximum concentration of uranium that Iran can enrich has been limited to 3.67%, but when former US President Donald Trump unilaterally abandoned the nuclear agreement in 2018 and restored sanctions against Iran, Iran increased uranium concentration from the following year. come.
Talks on restoring the nuclear deal were held in 2021, but they have stalled without much progress.
Then, in January, when the IAEA announced to member states that 84% uranium, which is at the level of nuclear weapons production, was found at the underground nuclear facility in Fordo, Iran, discussions on an agreement were reached, and President Grossi visited Iran in person and reached an agreement.
In the announcement of the position of both sides, the United States only stated that it was consulting with its European ally, the IAEA, on an effective method.
It did not specify how much pressure it would exert for Iran’s actual implementation.
State Department spokesman Ned Price said at a regular briefing, “Iran must cooperate fully with the IAEA without delay.”
Source: Donga
Mark Jones is a world traveler and journalist for News Rebeat. With a curious mind and a love of adventure, Mark brings a unique perspective to the latest global events and provides in-depth and thought-provoking coverage of the world at large.