Iran and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) have settled their dispute over the inspection of two allegedly secret nuclear facilities.
After intensive deliberations, both sides had agreed that Tehran would voluntarily grant the inspectors from Vienna access, said IAEA chief Rafael Grossi and the Iranian responsible Ali-Akbar Salehi in a joint statement today. The long-simmering dispute had put a heavy strain on the relationship between the UN agency and the Islamic Republic.
Removed possible traces?
Iran is said to have stored nuclear material at the two locations in Tehran and Isfahan. Satellite imagery suggests, according to the IAEA, that these sites have been cleaned and traces of previous activity removed. The Iranian Nuclear Organization denies this and has so far rejected the IAEA’s request.
The IAEA monitors compliance with the nuclear deal with Iran. The 2015 deal is designed to prevent the Islamic Republic from building an atomic bomb. The disputed issue was not directly related to the agreement, but the US had cited Tehran’s behavior as evidence that Iran could not be trusted.
