Iran breaks off cooperation with IAEA - inspectors on the way to Vienna!

Iran breaks off cooperation with IAEA - inspectors on the way to Vienna!

Wien, Österreich - The tensions between Iran and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) have reached a new highlight. Last Friday, the IAEA inspectors left Iran after the cooperation with the authority was officially suspended. This was done in the context of a law that Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian had approved to stop the inspections until the safety of Iranian nuclear systems is guaranteed. The inspectors stayed in the country during the warlike conflict, but are now on the way to Vienna, the headquarters of the IAEA. Diplomatic sources report that only a few IAEA experts in Iran were recently active after access to the nuclear facilities was no longer possible due to bombing. However, a spokesman for the IAEA could not confirm whether the entire team left the country. As reports Jewish Allgemeine, the return of the inspectors to the region is of crucial importance for monitoring the Iranian nuclear program.

The cause of this development lies in the continuing conflict between Iran and Israel. The new decision to suspend the cooperation with the IAEA was followed by a controversial report by the authority, which was used as a pretext for Israeli attacks on Iranian nuclear facilities. While the Iranian government accused the IAEA of acting with Israel in the group, the IAEA and Western governments contradict this claim and are concerned about the possibility that Iran could rebuild its nuclear program without external control. Also reported cnn that the USA and other western states require this decision as unacceptable.

A look at the current situation

The adoption of the law that immediately exposes cooperation with the IAEA was a reaction to the worrying developments around the Iranian nuclear systems, which were severely damaged by bombing. In his explanations, IAEA boss Rafael Grossi emphasized the importance of resuming the controls soon. He urged that Iran could possibly be able to resume uranium enrichment within a few months, which further endangers the international efforts to prevent nuclear weapons. It is still unclear how and when the National Security Council of Iran will decide on a possible resumption of cooperation. It is expected that the decision depends on the fulfillment of certain safety requirements, such as ZDF.

National rhetoric within Iran is becoming increasingly aggressive. MPs from the Iranian Parliament even called for the expulsion of the IAEA controls and described them as "remaining spies". In the past few days there have also been reports that Iran does not want to give up its diplomacy entirely, and discussions with the USA could possibly be resumed. A meeting between the Iranian Foreign Minister and the U.S. Sondermen will be prepared for the coming week in Oslo, whereby the exact date is still unknown. Whether Oman will appear as an intermediary also remains unclear.

The current situation offers little reason to calm down. The threat from an uncontrolled Iranian nuclear program hovers like a sword of Damocles through the negotiations and increases international concerns. According to the latest conflict, it is clear that both Iran and Israel are ready to defend their positions, and the way to a diplomatic solution could be long and stony.