IAEA and Iran Reach Temporary Agreement on Nuclear Inspections... "Reduced Inspection Scope"

Nuclear Deal Parties Keep Door Open for Negotiations with Iran

Rafael Grossi, IAEA Director General
[Photo by Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Suhwan] The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has been able to temporarily maintain the scope of nuclear inspections in Iran at a reduced level compared to before. This is seen as opening the possibility of an agreement amid the ongoing standoff between the United States and Iran over the Iran nuclear deal (JCPOA - Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action).

According to major foreign media on the 21st (local time), the IAEA has reached a temporary agreement to maintain nuclear inspections in Iran within a limited scope for three months. Rafael Grossi, IAEA Director General, said that even if Iran suspends the implementation of the Additional Protocol, "it will still be possible to maintain the necessary inspections and verification work." However, he added that access to nuclear facilities may be reduced compared to before.

Director General Grossi made a sudden visit to Iran last weekend ahead of Iran's implementation of the nuclear inspection refusal measures and reached this agreement.

Until now, the IAEA has inspected nuclear facilities in Iran without restrictions based on the Additional Protocol under the Iran nuclear deal concluded in 2015. Surprise inspections of nuclear facilities were also possible. Iran allowed such unlimited nuclear inspections in exchange for the lifting of economic sanctions from the international community.

However, in May 2018, the Trump administration in the United States unilaterally withdrew from the nuclear deal and restored sanctions against Iran. In response, Iran declared the resumption of its nuclear weapons development program.

U.S. President Joe Biden expressed his intention to return to the nuclear deal on the condition that Iran pre-comply with the nuclear deal provisions during the presidential election process, but Iran has set the lifting of sanctions as a precondition, leading to a tense tug-of-war between the two sides.

Earlier, the Iranian parliament passed a bill in December last year to expand uranium enrichment and suspend IAEA inspections. The Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs notified that if the nuclear deal participants do not fulfill their obligations under the nuclear deal by this day, Iran will suspend the implementation of the Additional Protocol and completely reject nuclear inspections.

In this situation, the IAEA's temporary agreement with Iran is evaluated as having opened the possibility to maintain limited inspections of Iran's nuclear facilities and to continue diplomatic negotiations between the parties. Director General Grossi said, "The agreement reached with Iran is feasible and useful in resolving the current differences," adding, "Of course, a stable and sustainable situation will depend on political negotiations beyond my authority."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.