Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility
Iran Agrees to Extend Deal on Cameras at Its Nuclear Sites
gvw_ap_news
By Associated Press
Published 3 years ago on
May 24, 2021

Share

VIENNA — Iran and the U.N.’s nuclear watchdog agreed Monday to a one-month extension to a deal on surveillance cameras at Tehran’s atomic sites, buying more time for ongoing negotiations seeking to save the country’s tattered nuclear deal with world powers.

The last-minute discussions, including the International Atomic Energy Agency pushing back a statement planned for Sunday, further underscored the narrowing window for the U.S. and others to reach terms with Iran as it presses a tough stance with the international community over its atomic program. The Islamic Republic is already enriching and stockpiling uranium at levels far beyond those allowed by its 2015 nuclear deal.

IAEA Officials Acknowledge Deal and Stress the Challenges that Remain

Speaking at a news conference Monday in Vienna, IAEA Director-General Rafael Mariano Grossi told journalists that came after a discussion with Ali Akbar Salehi, the head of Iran’s civilian nuclear program. He acknowledged that challenges remain, however, as the agency still can’t access images taken by its cameras.

“I’d want to stress this is not ideal,” Grossi said. “This is like an emergency device that we came up with in order for us to continue having these monitoring activities.”

Kazem Gharibabadi, Iran’s representative to the IAEA, acknowledged the deal at the same time on Twitter. He said Tehran’s civilian nuclear agency, the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran, would keep the material already recorded by the IAEA cameras.

“We recommend the negotiating countries to seize the extra opportunity provided by Iran in good faith for the complete lifting of sanctions in a practical and verifiable manner,” Gharibabadi wrote.

Cameras Monitor Tehran’s Program to Ensure Compliance

Under a confidential agreement called an “Additional Protocol” with Iran, the IAEA collects and analyzes images from a series of surveillance cameras installed at Iranian nuclear sites. Those cameras helped it monitor Tehran’s program to see if it is complying with the nuclear deal.

Iran’s hard-line parliament in December approved a bill that would suspend part of U.N. inspections of its nuclear facilities if European signatories did not provide relief from oil and banking sanctions by February.

The IAEA then struck a three-month deal with Iran in February to have it hold the surveillance images, with Tehran threatening to delete them afterward if no deal had been reached.

Iran since has broken all the deal’s limits after then-President Donald Trump in 2018 unilaterally withdrew America from the accord. Ali Akbar Salehi, the head of Iran’s civilian program, said Monday that Tehran had stockpiled 5 tons of uranium enriched up to 5% purity, 90 kilograms (198 pounds) enriched up to 20% and 2.5 kilograms (5.5 pounds) up to 60%.

That’s still below weapons-grade levels of 90% purity. Iran long has maintained its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes. The West fears it could be used to help Tehran potentially obtain an atomic bomb, though U.S. intelligence agencies say they “assess that Iran is not currently undertaking the key nuclear weapons-development activities … necessary to produce a nuclear device.”

Negotiations continue in Vienna to see if both the U.S. and Iran can re-enter the deal, which limited Tehran’s enrichment of uranium in exchange for the lifting of economic sanctions. Iran and the U.S. aren’t directly negotiating, however.

Deal Will Help in Vienna Talks to Restore Nuclear Deal

Mikhail Ulyanov, Russia’s ambassador to the IAEA, called Monday’s agreement “commendable.”

“It will help maintain businesslike atmosphere at the Vienna talks on #JCPOA and facilitate a successful outcome of the diplomatic efforts to restore the nuclear deal,” he wrote on Twitter, using an acronym for the deal.

But if a deal isn’t reached in a month’s time, that footage again would be in jeopardy.

Asked about that, Grossi simply said: “We are going to discuss that when we get to that point.”

He also acknowledged Iran’s upcoming June 18 presidential election could mean new faces at the negotiating table. So far, Grossi has been dealing with the administration of the relatively moderate President Hassan Rouhani, which clinched the nuclear deal. Analysts believe hard-liners have an edge going into the vote.

“We deal with Iran and the Iranian people will give itself its new government in the next elections,” Grossi said. “So I’m not worried and I’m confident that whoever comes next will, of course, continue cooperating with the IAEA. I think it’s in everybody’s interests.”

RELATED TOPICS:

DON'T MISS

Different Faces, Different Voices, But the Same Goal: Exercising Democracy by Voting

DON'T MISS

Live Updates: Who Will Be President? AP Calls States for the Candidates

DON'T MISS

Fresno County Road Rage Incident Leads to Violent Assault, High-Speed Chase

DON'T MISS

When to Expect Fresno County Election Results

DON'T MISS

Israeli Strikes Target Syria for a Second Day in a Row

DON'T MISS

Trump Snaps at Reporter When Asked About Abortion: ‘Stop Talking About That’

DON'T MISS

Soria Stumps Outside Polling Place. Was it Legal?

DON'T MISS

These California Toss-Ups May Decide Which Party Controls Congress

DON'T MISS

What We’ll Know and When We’ll Know It: A Guide to Election Night

DON'T MISS

Democratic Mayors in San Francisco and Oakland Fight to Keep Their Jobs on Election Day

UP NEXT

Israel’s Netanyahu Dismisses Defense Minister in Surprise Announcement

UP NEXT

Palestinians in Gaza Fear Neither Candidate in US Election Will Help Them

UP NEXT

Ukrainian Troops Have Engaged With North Korean Units for the 1st Time in Russia, an Official Says

UP NEXT

Middle East Latest: Dozens Killed in Gaza as Israel Says It Targeted a Weapons Facility

UP NEXT

Trump Threatens 25% Tariff on Mexico to Curb Immigration

UP NEXT

Israel Ends Agreement With UN Agency Providing Aid in Gaza

UP NEXT

US Confirms Reports That Iran Arrested an Iranian-American Citizen

UP NEXT

Israel Says It Carried out Ground Raid Into Syria, Seizing a Syrian Citizen

UP NEXT

Russia’s Swift March Forward in Ukraine’s East

UP NEXT

North Korea’s Long-Range Missile Test Signals Its Improved, Potential Capability to Attack US

When to Expect Fresno County Election Results

3 hours ago

Israeli Strikes Target Syria for a Second Day in a Row

4 hours ago

Trump Snaps at Reporter When Asked About Abortion: ‘Stop Talking About That’

4 hours ago

Soria Stumps Outside Polling Place. Was it Legal?

5 hours ago

These California Toss-Ups May Decide Which Party Controls Congress

5 hours ago

What We’ll Know and When We’ll Know It: A Guide to Election Night

6 hours ago

Democratic Mayors in San Francisco and Oakland Fight to Keep Their Jobs on Election Day

6 hours ago

These 8 Counties Could Hint at Where the Election Is Headed

6 hours ago

Israel’s Netanyahu Dismisses Defense Minister in Surprise Announcement

7 hours ago

Cryptocurrency Markets, Promoted by Trump, Brace for Election Volatility

7 hours ago

Different Faces, Different Voices, But the Same Goal: Exercising Democracy by Voting

They might not be able to agree on who should be elected president or whether the country is headed in the right or wrong direction, but the...

1 hour ago

1 hour ago

Different Faces, Different Voices, But the Same Goal: Exercising Democracy by Voting

1 hour ago

Live Updates: Who Will Be President? AP Calls States for the Candidates

A road rage incident in Fresno County escalated into a violent assault and a high-speed pursuit, resulting in the suspect's arrest and vehicle impoundment. (CHP)
3 hours ago

Fresno County Road Rage Incident Leads to Violent Assault, High-Speed Chase

3 hours ago

When to Expect Fresno County Election Results

The wreckage left by Israeli airstrikes in Dahieh, a predominantly Shiite suburb of south Beirut, Lebanon, on Tuesday, Nov. 5 2024. (Daniel Berehulak /The New York Times)
4 hours ago

Israeli Strikes Target Syria for a Second Day in a Row

Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump speaks as former first lady Melania Trump listens after they voted on Election Day at the Morton and Barbara Mandel Recreation Center, Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024, in Palm Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)
4 hours ago

Trump Snaps at Reporter When Asked About Abortion: ‘Stop Talking About That’

5 hours ago

Soria Stumps Outside Polling Place. Was it Legal?

5 hours ago

These California Toss-Ups May Decide Which Party Controls Congress

Search

Send this to a friend