US and Europe Express Concern over Detention of IAEA Inspector in Iran
The European Union and the United States expressed concern regarding the temporary detention of an inspector from the International Atomic Energy Agency in Iran. Iran has claimed that traces of explosive material nitrate were found in tests conducted on the detained individual.
The European Union and the United States expressed their concern over the temporary detention of an inspector from the International Atomic Energy Agency.
Jackie Wolcott, the US representative to the International Atomic Energy Agency, described Iran’s action as “provocative and disturbing” in a statement on Thursday, November 7. He said that members of the Board of Governors should make clear that this action “is in no way acceptable, will not be tolerated, and must have consequences.”
The European Union also stated in a statement on Thursday, November 7, that it is “deeply concerned” regarding the incident. In the EU statement, which has a more measured tone compared to the US ambassador’s statement, it said “we note that the matter has been resolved and we ask Iran to ensure that such an incident does not happen again in the future.”
Reuters news agency reported the previous day that last week an inspector from the International Atomic Energy Agency was temporarily detained at the Natanz enrichment facility, and the inspector’s travel documents were also confiscated. According to three informed diplomats, the detained inspector is a woman who was forced to surrender her travel documents to Iranian officials.
The Organization of Atomic Energy of Iran responded in a statement regarding what it described as “preventing entry of an IAEA inspector to the Natanz facility.” In this statement, it said that “the reason for Iran’s action was concern about the possible carrying of suspicious materials.” Iran says the permission to accept this inspector was “revoked and communicated to the Agency.”
Iran has claimed that the results of tests conducted on this individual confirmed traces of the explosive material nitrate.
Iran’s Claim: Agency Representative Carried “Explosive Nitrate”
Kazem Gharibabadi, Iran’s representative to the International Atomic Energy Agency, claimed on Thursday, November 7 (Aban 16), that the reason for preventing entry of one of the Agency’s inspectors to the Natanz enrichment facility was carrying “traces of explosive nitrate.” The International Atomic Energy Agency has not responded to Gharibabadi’s claim.
Kazem Gharibabadi, at the end of Thursday’s session of the Agency’s Board of Governors meeting regarding the inspector who was prevented from entering the Natanz facility, told Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting: “When the inspector was in the Natanz facility, our detectors (control equipment) identified that this inspector could be carrying dangerous materials. Multiple measures were taken afterward. The detector was not used only once, but was used in different environments, and even when it was used for her handbag, it still alarmed and warned.”
Iran’s representative to the Agency added: “I told the Board members that given the history of sabotage at our nuclear facilities, under no circumstances whatsoever will we compromise on national security and the safety and security of nuclear facilities, and we insist that the Agency must fully cooperate with us so that we can conduct these investigations completely.”
Source: DW
