IAEA extends checks on Iranian nuclear power h by one month

Director general Grossi confirms that the next deadline will expire on 24 June. A "buffer measure" to avoid "flying blind". Iranian ambassador: "Seize the extra opportunity provided" by Tehran for the lifting of sanctions. Ministry of Foreign Affairs: “very significant progress” from Vienna.

Vienna (AsiaNews / Agencies) - Iran extended the temporary agreement with the chiefs of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) yesterday by "at least a month", giving the green light to "surveillance and verification activities "On nuclear plants in the Islamic Republic. According to reports from the director general of the UN body Rafael Grossi, the new deadline is expected to expire on 24 June.

Tehran has given its consent to the extension so as not to hinder the final phase of the negotiations underway in Vienna on the 2015 nuclear agreement, with the full return of the United States and the - at least partial - lifting of the sanctions.

The IAEA director general explains that the agreement serves to fill a void and "avert talks in the dark" with the Iranian counterpart. While welcoming the opening of Tehran, Grossi however acknowledged that the situation is not favourable. “"The temporary understanding is a sort of stop-gap measure. It is to avoid flying completely blind," he said.

Recently, Tehran progressively violated the terms of the pact by easing restrictions on nuclear activities. The first steps in this direction date back to 2019, in response to the May 2018 withdrawal by the then US President Donald Trump from the JCPOA and the reintroduction of the toughest sanctions in history, causing a collapse of the Iranian economy.

The temporary agreement will expire on June 24, a few days before the presidential elections to close the era of moderate Hassan Rouhani (who will not be able to stand as a candidate having finished his second term) and lead a conservative to power. A change destined to also affect the timing, methods and possible results of the ongoing nuclear talks.

In February, the Islamic Republic announced the interruption of the application of the IAEA protocol, which allows access to suspicious sites and the vision of surveillance cameras. However, the parties then finalized a "temporary technical pact" lasting three months.

 Announcing the extension, Iranian Ambassador to the IAEA Kazem Gharibabadi said world powers should "seize the extra opportunity provided by Iran in good faith for the complete lifting of sanctions." Yesterday the Iranian Foreign Ministry spoke of "very significant progress" in the Vienna talks, which could lead to "results" if "a political decision is taken in Washington".