IAEA cameras to remain off until nuke deal restored - Iran

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
25 Jul 2022 21:12
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“We will not turn on the IAEA cameras until the other side returns to the nuclear deal,” said the head of the Iranian Atomic Nuclear Organization, Mohammad Eslami.

Iran to keep IAEA cameras off till nuclear talks are resumed

Iran will keep the UN nuclear watchdog's cameras off until the 2015 nuclear deal is restored, the head of the country's Atomic Energy Organization, Mohammed Eslami, said on Monday, according to state media.

"We will not turn on the IAEA cameras until the other side returns to the nuclear deal," Eslami said.

"We will decide about the ...cameras added under the nuclear deal after the Westerners return to the accord and we are sure they won't do anything mischievous," Eslami added.

He also said Iran would not accept to address alleged unexplained uranium traces, adding that the 2015 nuclear deal had cleared Iran of the claimed PMD (possible military dimensions) allegations.

"The claimed PMD cases and locations were closed under the nuclear accord and if they (West) are sincere, they should know that closed items will not be reopened. The basis of the nuclear accord was a response to these alleged cases," Eslami was quoted by state media as saying.

Eslami said that the decision to switch off the UN watchdog cameras was justified on the grounds of receiving constant criticism from the West.

He added that the reason why the JCPOA came into being in 2015 was due to the West ceasing to accuse Iran’s peaceful nuclear program and building confidence.

Iran had made numerous compromises to stick to its commitments. It complied with a series of limitations to its uranium enrichment activities and allowed cameras to be set up at its nuclear sites under the JCPOA.

Where Iran has demonstrated good composure in complying with the many conditions set by the JCPOA, the west failed to stick to its side of the bargain.

Due to this, Iran took the decision to turn off the ultra-Safeguards Agreement cameras monitoring enrichment levels (OLEM or Online Enrichment Monitor) and flowmeters of the IAEA as of June 8.

But more than 80 percent of the IAEA’s cameras in Iran remain to have access to data within the framework of the Safeguards Agreement, which will continue to operate as before.

This decision comes at a time when expectations placed on Biden were high with regard to the resumption of the nuclear talks.

But the recent so-called "Jerusalem Declaration" raised many eyebrows to the enormous consequences this would entail on the possibility of resuming the talks.