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Daily News Analysis

Iran, IAEA reach deal on inspections  

23rd February, 2021 International Relations

Context: The UN nuclear watchdog chief announced a “temporary solution” to allow Iranian facility inspections to continue after days of talks with officials, giving some much-needed breathing space for diplomatic negotiations.

 

Details:

  • Under the new three-month arrangement, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) would not have the same level of access after a law comes into force limiting some inspections.
  • Iran’s conservative-dominated Parliament passed the law demanding a suspension of some inspections if the U.S. failed to lift sanctions.
  • Iran will continue to allow access to UN inspectors to its declared nuclear sites.
  • Iran will temporarily suspend so-called “voluntary transparency measures” — notably inspections of non-nuclear sites, including military sites suspected of nuclear-related activity.
  • Tehran will also deny the IAEA real-time access to footage from surveillance cameras installed at some sites and, if sanctions are not lifted within three months, delete it.
  • Iran’s Foreign Ministry hailed the outcome, saying it complied with Parliament's demands and “resulted in a very significant diplomatic achievement and a very significant technical achievement”.

 

https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-international/iran-iaea-reach-deal-on-inspections/article33908783.ece