IAEA Chief Calls for Iran’s Compliance With Obligations Under Key Nuclear Treaty

Latest Developments

Iran’s NPT Obligations Not Optional: The director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Rafael Grossi, stated ahead of a September 8 meeting of the IAEA’s Board of Governors that legislation passed in June by Iran’s parliament ending cooperation with the international nuclear watchdog did not absolve Tehran from its obligation to allow IAEA inspectors access to its nuclear facilities and account for nuclear material in accordance with the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty (NPT). “While national law may create obligations domestically, it cannot do so for the IAEA,” Grossi said. IAEA inspectors have been denied access to all but one of Iran’s nuclear sites since the war with Israel and the United States in June.
IAEA Uncertain on Iran’s Nuclear Inventories: The IAEA revealed in its latest quarterly report that it had “lost continuity of knowledge in relation to the current inventories of nuclear material in Iran, including low-enriched uranium (LEU) and high-enriched uranium (HEU), which urgently needs to be addressed.” On August 28, the E3 — France, the United Kingdom, and Germany — triggered the “snapback” process for restoring UN sanctions against Iran for not permitting inspectors full access to its nuclear sites, not accounting for its missing stocks of near-weapons-grade uranium, and failing to resume negotiations over its nuclear program.
Ayatollah Advocates Isolating Israel: Amid the tensions with the IAEA, Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei ordered the Iranian Foreign Ministry to urge nations around the world to isolate Israel. “Both Muslim and non-Muslim countries, and Muslim nations in particular, should completely cut their economic ties with the Zionist regime, and they should even sever their diplomatic ties,” he said. “It’s the most hated government across the world, but it can be isolated even more. All pathways must be closed. This is a duty for all countries.”

FDD Expert Response

“Nearly three months have passed since the June strikes, yet Iran has failed to provide information to the IAEA about the status of its nuclear sites and nuclear material and denied access to its sites, both of which are legal requirements for states parties to the NPT. Grossi has rightly pointed out that Iran cannot cherry-pick safeguards implementation and seeks Tehran’s immediate correction. The IAEA Board of Governors should fully support him.” — Andrea Stricker, Nonproliferation and Biodefense Program Deputy Director and Research Fellow

“It’s important at a moment like this not to be drawn into a farcical process of trading away snapback for half-concessions by Iran that do not address fundamental breaches of its nuclear obligations and commitments. The IAEA should continue pressing for complete access and accountability, but no one should be looking to compromise on the NPT just to avoid completing snapback.” — Richard Goldberg, Senior Advisor