US 'deeply concerned' about Iran's lack of cooperation with IAEA
A US State Department spokesperson said the country is deeply concerned about Iran's failure to respond to the International Atomic Energy Agency regarding the origin of uranium particles found at three sites.
US State Department spokesman Ned Price said in a press conference on Wednesday evening, June 9, that his country is deeply concerned that Iran has not yet provided the International Atomic Energy Agency with the necessary information about the discovered and undeclared nuclear particles.
The US State Department spokesperson also stated that the country fully supports the International Atomic Energy Agency's pursuit of necessary information from Iran.
Ned Price said that Iran must cooperate fully with the International Atomic Energy Agency and must do so without delay.
Rafael Grossi, Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency, said on Monday, June 7, at a meeting of the UN agency's Board of Governors that he was "deeply" concerned that the Islamic Republic was hiding nuclear material.
Grossi emphasized that Iran has consistently refused to provide the necessary explanations about the particles of nuclear material found at the three sites, and this action prevents the Agency from confirming that Iran's nuclear program is peaceful.
Iran and the International Atomic Energy Agency agreed in February to suspend Iran's decision to suspend the Additional Protocol for three months due to the failure to lift US sanctions. When that deadline expired in May, the deadline was extended again to June 24.
Previous US warning
Following the IAEA Secretary General's report, the United States issued a statement calling on Iran to refrain from taking any action that would impede the International Energy Agency's access to and collection of necessary information about its nuclear activities.
The US statement states that such an action by the Islamic Republic of Iran could, at the very least, seriously complicate Iran's return to its JCPOA commitments and the lifting of sanctions by the US.
The fifth round of talks between Iran, the P4+1 group and the United States is scheduled to begin in Vienna on Friday, June 11. The goal of these talks is to return Iran and the United States to the JCPOA nuclear agreement.
Source: DW
