©(Photo by Joe Klamar / AFP)
Iran's limited cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) is causing concern, as IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi stated in an interview with AFP on Thursday that the agency feels ensnared in the country's disputes with Western nations, characterizing the situation as akin to being held "hostage."
Iran is barely cooperating with the International Atomic Energy Agency, which feels it is being held "hostage" to the country's disputes with Western countries, IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi told AFP on Thursday.
The UN agency, based in Vienna, has been struggling since 2021 to carry out controls on Iran's nuclear program, which continues to expand even as Tehran denies it wants to make nuclear weapons.
"It's a very frustrating situation. We continue our activities there, but at a minimum," Grossi said in an interview at the World Economic Forum in Davos. "They are restricting cooperation in a very unprecedented way."
He cited as an example Iran's rejection of inspectors because of their nationalities.
"It's a way to punish us because of external things," he said. "When there's something that France, the UK or the United States says that they don't like, it is as if they were taking the IAEA hostage to their political disputes with others. This is unacceptable for us."
Iran last year slowed down its pace of uranium enrichment, which was seen as a goodwill gesture, while informal talks began with the United States. But it accelerated enrichment once again in late 2023.
"There is a plateau at the moment, but it could change in the next few days," Grossi said. "We never know."
The already poor relations between Washington and Tehran have worsened with the conflict between Israel and Hamas, with each nation accusing the other of inflaming the situation, further complicating efforts to rein in Iran's nuclear program.
"Diplomacy, diplomacy, diplomacy, this is what we need. We need to continue talking, we need to prevent the situation deteriorating to a degree where it would be impossible to retrieve it."
"I would not exclude returning to Iran," Grossi added.
Khalil Wakim, with AFP
Iran is barely cooperating with the International Atomic Energy Agency, which feels it is being held "hostage" to the country's disputes with Western countries, IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi told AFP on Thursday.
The UN agency, based in Vienna, has been struggling since 2021 to carry out controls on Iran's nuclear program, which continues to expand even as Tehran denies it wants to make nuclear weapons.
"It's a very frustrating situation. We continue our activities there, but at a minimum," Grossi said in an interview at the World Economic Forum in Davos. "They are restricting cooperation in a very unprecedented way."
He cited as an example Iran's rejection of inspectors because of their nationalities.
"It's a way to punish us because of external things," he said. "When there's something that France, the UK or the United States says that they don't like, it is as if they were taking the IAEA hostage to their political disputes with others. This is unacceptable for us."
'Diplomacy, Diplomacy, Diplomacy'
Iran last year slowed down its pace of uranium enrichment, which was seen as a goodwill gesture, while informal talks began with the United States. But it accelerated enrichment once again in late 2023.
"There is a plateau at the moment, but it could change in the next few days," Grossi said. "We never know."
The already poor relations between Washington and Tehran have worsened with the conflict between Israel and Hamas, with each nation accusing the other of inflaming the situation, further complicating efforts to rein in Iran's nuclear program.
"Diplomacy, diplomacy, diplomacy, this is what we need. We need to continue talking, we need to prevent the situation deteriorating to a degree where it would be impossible to retrieve it."
"I would not exclude returning to Iran," Grossi added.
Khalil Wakim, with AFP
This Is Beirut
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