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Nuclear agreement in Iran
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Iran has agreed to give inspectors from the International Atomic Energy Agency access to two suspected former nuclear sites.
A joint statement said Iran did so in good faith to resolve significant issues related to nuclear security.
The agreement was reached during a visit to Tehran by the Director-General of the IAEA.
The World Watchdog has criticized Iran for not answering its questions about possible declared nuclear material and nuclear-related activities at the two locations, and denied access.
It is thought that the activities took place long before 2015, when Iran closed a focal point with world powers placing borders on its nuclear program.
Iran claims it has never sought nuclear weapons, but evidence previously collected by the IAEA suggests that until 2003 it “conducted a range of activities relevant to the development of a nuclear explosive device”.
What has been agreed?
IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi flew to Tehran on Monday for talks with the head of Iran’s nuclear energy organization, Ali Akbar Salehi.
On Wednesday, they announced that they had “reached an agreement in good faith on the resolution of the implementation problems of the security”.
image copyrightEPA“In this regard, Iran provides the IAEA voluntary access to the two locations designated by the IAEA and facilitates the IAEA verification activities to resolve these issues,” it added.
“IAEA access dates and verification activities have been agreed.”
The statement said that in the current context, the IAEA had no further questions for Iran or further requests for access to locations.
What do we know about the sites?
The IAEA has been tasked with certifying Iran’s declarations under the comprehensive safeguard agreement of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, and facilitating the implementation of an additional protocol that Iran agreed to in 2015.
- The possible presence between 2002 and 2003 on one side of natural uranium in the form of a metal disc. In 2003 and 2004, the site underwent extensive sanitation and leveling
- The possible use or storage of nuclear material and / or the conduct of nuclear related activities at a second location, which may have been used for the processing and conversion of uranium ore in 2003. The site underwent significant changes in 2004, including the demolition of most buildings
- The possible use and storage of nuclear material at a third location where outside, conventional explosive tests may have taken place in 2003, including in relation to tests of protection in preparation for the use of neutron detectors. From 2019 onwards, the IAEA observed activities consistent with efforts to rehabilitate part of the site
Earlier this year, the IAEA asked Iran to provide access to the second and third locations so that inspectors could perform environmental sampling. The bureau believed there would be no value in accessing the first location.
The report said Iran had responded by saying it could not provide access to the sites and that it would “recognize no allegations of past activity”.
