Iran to restrict nuclear inspections unless sanctions lifted
Government spokesperson Ali Rabiei said Iran would start restricting short-notice inspections of its nuclear facilities beginning next month.
Iran will begin restricting UN inspectors' access to its nuclear sites next month if new US President Joe Biden doesn’t lift crippling sanctions imposed by the previous administration.
The landmark 2015 nuclear deal, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, called on Iran to implement an Additional Protocol granting the International Atomic Energy Agency short notice access to Iran's nuclear sites. The IAEA, the UN's nuclear watchdog agency, currently carries out regular inspections as well as the more intrusive inspections called for under the Additional Protocol.
But in a televised news conference on Tuesday, government spokesperson Ali Rabiei said Iran would start restricting the more intrusive type of access on Feb. 19.
“Our law is very clear regarding this issue,” Rabiei. “But it does not mean Iran will stop other inspections by the International Atomic Energy Agency.”
