IAEA and Iran interim agreement for nuclear inspection… “Reduction of inspection range”

Parties to the nuclear agreement-Iran leave room for negotiations

[아시아경제 김수환 기자] The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) will be able to temporarily maintain the scope of its nuclear inspections on Iran in a reduced state. It is evaluated that the possibility of an agreement has been opened amid a strong confrontation between the United States and Iran over the Iranian nuclear agreement (JCPOA·Comprehensive Joint Action Plan).

According to a major foreign press on the 21st (local time), the IAEA made a temporary agreement with Iran to keep nuclear inspections within a limited range for three months. IAEA Secretary-General Rafael Grossey said that even if Iran ceases to implement the IAEA Supplemental Protocol, “it will still be able to maintain the necessary inspection and verification work.” However, he added that access to nuclear facilities may be less than before.

Secretary-General Grossi made a sudden visit to Iran last weekend ahead of the implementation of Iran’s refusal of nuclear inspections to reach the agreement.

The IAEA has been inspecting nuclear facilities in Iran without restrictions based on additional protocols under the Iran Nuclear Agreement signed in 2015. An emergency inspection of nuclear facilities was also possible. Instead of allowing these unlimited nuclear inspections, Iran was lifted from international sanctions.

However, in May 2018, the former US administration of Donald Trump unilaterally withdrew from the nuclear agreement and restored sanctions against Iran, and the Iranian side, who opposed it, has pledged to resume its nuclear weapons development program.

U.S. President Joe Biden expressed his intention to return to the nuclear agreement on condition of prior compliance with Iran’s terms of the nuclear agreement from the presidential election process, but Iran is undertaking a tight tug of war between the two sides with the lifting of sanctions as a prerequisite.

Earlier, in December of last year, the Iranian parliament voted to implement measures such as expanding uranium enrichment and stopping IAEA inspections. Iran’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs informed that the countries participating in the nuclear agreement would stop implementing the additional protocol and reject nuclear inspection altogether if they do not fulfill their obligations under the nuclear agreement by this day.

Under these circumstances, it is evaluated that the IAEA has reached a temporary agreement with Iran, leaving the room for limited inspections of Iran’s nuclear facilities and continuing diplomatic negotiations between the parties. “The agreement with Iran is feasible and will be useful in resolving the current stance,” said Grossi. “Of course, a stable and sustainable situation will be possible through political negotiations outside my authority.”

Reporter Kim Soo-hwan [email protected]