International Atomic Energy Agency Calls Iran’s Treatment of Agency Inspector “Unacceptable”
Reuters reported on Tuesday, September 23, that the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has called Iran’s treatment of female IAEA inspectors “inappropriate,” and the United States has deemed such conduct an instance of “harassment” and “absolutely unacceptable.”
The report states that diplomats familiar with the IAEA have said that in the first incident that occurred in June of this year at the Natanz facility, one of the agency’s female inspectors was subjected to unnecessary and inappropriate body searches and inspections.
According to Reuters, the details of this case and the number of such incidents that have occurred since that time remain unclear. The IAEA, which keeps the identities and gender of inspectors confidential, has been reluctant to provide many details.
The International Atomic Energy Agency, in a statement issued in response to a Wall Street Journal report on this matter, stated: “In recent months, certain incidents related to security inspections of agency inspectors have occurred at one of Iran’s facilities.”
The IAEA said: “The Agency has promptly and firmly raised this matter with Iran and has explicitly and unambiguously stated that such security incidents involving Agency staff are unacceptable and must not be repeated.”
According to the report, the IAEA says that following these incidents, Iran provided explanations regarding enhanced security measures, and after this dialogue between Iran and the Agency, no further incidents have been reported.
According to Reuters, the United States, at this week’s meeting of the IAEA Board of Governors, presented a text to other countries present at the session, informing them of the continued “inappropriate harassment” of IAEA inspectors by “Iranian security officials at nuclear facilities” and called it “absolutely unacceptable.” Reuters says it has seen a copy of this text.
Kazem Gharibabadi, Iran’s representative to the International Atomic Energy Agency, also wrote on Twitter, referring to enhanced security measures at Iran’s nuclear facilities, that IAEA inspectors “have gradually introduced new rules and regulations.”
Source: Voice of America
