Bloomberg: Three European Countries Censure Iran After 8 Years for Lack of Cooperation with International Atomic Energy Agency
Following the Islamic Republic of Iran’s move to block inspectors from the International Atomic Energy Agency from accessing two nuclear sites, where activities are believed to have taken place over the past two decades, the regime now faces its first formal censure in the past eight years.
Bloomberg reported on Monday, June 26, that France, Britain, and Germany have drafted a resolution calling on Iran to provide full cooperation with inspectors from the International Atomic Energy Agency; a resolution that marks the first Board of Governors censure of the IAEA since 2012 and could lay the groundwork for a new round of tensions over Iran’s nuclear program.
Last month, the International Atomic Energy Agency announced that while its inspectors have been monitoring Iran’s declared nuclear sites based on the nuclear agreement from five years ago, they seek to also visit sites where limited research activities are believed to have taken place approximately two decades ago.
The issue of these sites was initially raised following an examination of documents obtained by Israel. However, the International Atomic Energy Agency stated that its experts independently possess sufficient verified information to warrant inspection of the additional sites.
The resolution from the European countries, which appears to also have U.S. support, expresses “serious concerns about the failure to allow IAEA inspectors to visit other sites, based on the Additional Protocol.”
The Additional Protocol grants IAEA inspectors immediate access to inspect undeclared facilities and is one of the key provisions Iran accepted in the nuclear agreement with world powers.
The European countries’ resolution is set to be presented at the IAEA Board of Governors meeting later this week.
Source: Voice of America
