Status: 08.06.2022 10:07 p.m
The dispute over Iran’s nuclear program is coming to a head. Iran announced it would dismantle two International Atomic Energy Agency surveillance cameras at a uranium enrichment facility. The US reacted with concern.
Iran has announced the shutdown of two cameras monitoring its nuclear facilities. This was reported by the state broadcaster Irib. The USA immediately spoke of a very regrettable event that was counterproductive for a diplomatic solution to the conflict.
The Board of Governors of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said Iran has started to expand the underground uranium enrichment facilities in Natanz with new centrifuges. The IAEA passed a resolution in Vienna calling on Tehran to cooperate fully with IAEA inspectors. According to diplomats, among the 35 countries on the body, only Russia and China voted against, three countries abstained.
Measuring cameras for enrichment processes
Tehran has always emphasized that it will not seek nuclear weapons, as feared by the West and Israel, but will only use uranium for nuclear power plants and for scientific and industrial purposes. However, the IAEA has not yet been able to confirm this. The devices that have now been switched off are said to be measuring cameras for enrichment processes. It was not said exactly which plants were involved.
According to official information, uranium is currently being enriched in Natans in Iran. The cameras were last active, but the stored data have not been forwarded to the IAEA since early 2021. Actually, Iran should have provided answers about possible secret nuclear activities in the past by the beginning of June.
Process is stuck
According to IAEA chief Rafael Grossi, the Islamic Republic has still not made any technically credible statements. Negotiations on restrictions on Iran’s nuclear program have been going on in Vienna for months, mediated by China, Germany, France, Great Britain and Russia. However, the diplomatic process to save the 2015 nuclear pact with Iran has been deadlocked for months. The renewed restriction of Iran’s nuclear program is almost negotiated, but Washington and Tehran are still at odds over the lifting of US sanctions.