International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director General of the Rafael Mariano Grossi is expressing heightened concern over Iran’s refusal to cooperate with international investigations into allegations of undeclared nuclear activities.
“I note with serious concern that, after for over four months, Iran has denied us access to two locations and that, for almost a year, it has not been engaged in substantive discussions to clarify our questions related to possible undeclared nuclear material and nuclear-related activities,” said Grossi.
The IAEA Chief then underscored that Iranian refusal to permit inspections is “adversely affecting the Agency’s ability to resolve the questions and to provide credible assurance of the absence of undeclared nuclear material and activities at these locations in Iran.”
With evident frustration, Grossi demanded that Tehran “cooperate immediately and fully with the Agency, including by providing prompt access to the locations specified by us.”
The Islamic Republic responded by accusing the United Nations atomic watchdog organization of using politically biased information supplied by the United States and Israel.
“Our first hope is that this Board will maintain its independence and, at the same time, we warn that the use of political criteria in the consideration of the duties and rights of countries in the IAEA will have no other result than the breakdown of confidence and the strengthening of instability in the world arena,” said Iranian Government Spokesman Ali Rabbi.
“Iran has given the IAEA the greatest access a country can give. We have provided facilities to IAEA inspectors and we can say that we have the most transparent peaceful nuclear program in the world,” he claimed.