The Associated Press reports that a rift has emerged between the United States and Russia over how the Agency reports on Iran’s compliance with the nuclear agreement. Western governments want more details, but Moscow is resisting.
Although Russia and Western governments have overcome their existing differences in their views on Iran’s nuclear program developments to sign and implement a historic nuclear agreement between Iran and world powers, it is said that behind-the-scenes disagreements are ongoing regarding details.
The Associated Press reported on Tuesday (March 8) that Western governments are seeking greater detail in the Agency’s reports on Iran’s nuclear program developments and the Islamic Republic’s commitment to its obligations under the JCPOA, while Russia, as Iran’s ally, is resisting pressure to provide more details.
According to Vladimir Voronkov, head of the Russian delegation at the International Atomic Energy Agency, which is responsible for overseeing this historic agreement, remaining differences could affect the amount of information that will be made public in the future regarding Iran’s nuclear program.
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Ahead of discussions by 35 Board of Governors member states on the Agency’s latest report on Iran, he said: “In our view, this report is balanced and fair, but some of our colleagues believe more details could be provided in it.”
China agrees with Russia on this matter. Iran has objected that the report contains excessive details, and Yukiya Amano, the Agency’s Director General, has sought a middle ground. Nevertheless, it is said that Mr. Amano’s February report was shorter than all previous reports and only referred to Iran’s main commitments under the agreement and minor deviations that occurred at the very beginning of implementing the agreement.
Critics of the Agency’s report say the latest report makes no mention of the reduction in centrifuges and enrichment levels, and changes in Iran’s advanced centrifuges and stockpiles of enriched uranium have largely gone unmentioned.
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Olli Heinonen, former Deputy Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency, says: “Without accurate reporting, the international community cannot be assured that Iran is adhering to its commitments under the nuclear agreement. The latest status of Iran’s important nuclear facilities and equipment must be presented in detail in reports.”
In response to these criticisms, Yukiya Amano told the Associated Press that the Agency’s reports on Iran “will be based on facts and will be impartial and will include information that the Agency deems necessary to provide.”
