Vienna – Iran would not give International Nuclear Inspectors more access, given the recent U.S. walkout from the 2015 nuclear deal, a Senior Iranian Diplomat said on Wednesday.
Reza Najafi, who represents Iran at the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in Vienna, reacted to comments by IAEA chief Yukiya Amano that Tehran has not shown the maximum proactive attitude and speed towards inspectors in some cases.
Iran’s 2015 deal with the U. S. and other major powers includes intrusive IAEA monitoring as a way to detect and prevent possible nuclear weapons work, in exchange for the lifting of economic sanctions.
When U.S. President Donald Trump announced the U. S.’ exit from the deal in May, he ordered U.S. sanctions to be revived.
“While Iran is not benefiting from the deal, no one should expect Iran to go and implement more voluntary measures’’ on inspections, Najafi told reporters on the sidelines of a regular IAEA board meeting.
Iranian leaders announced this week that they are taking preparatory steps to boost uranium enrichment in case the 2015 deal breaks down.
Britain, France and Germany, which negotiated the agreement together with the U.S., Russia and China, are trying to salvage the deal by shielding European firms with Iran ties from the revived U.S. sanctions.
Najafi reiterated that Tehran would decide whether to uphold or leave the agreement “very soon,’’ depending on whether Europe’s efforts are successful.