BERLIN: The U.N. nuclear watchdog said on Friday it had pulled its last remaining inspectors from Iran as a standoff over their return to the country’s nuclear facilities bombed by the United States and Israel becomes further entrenched.
Israel launched the first of its military strikes on Iran’s nuclear sites in a 12-day war with the Islamic Republic three weeks ago. The International Atomic Energy Agency’s inspectors have not been able to inspect Iran’s facilities since then.
“An IAEA team of inspectors today safely departed from Iran to return to the Agency headquarters in Vienna, after staying in Tehran throughout the recent military conflict,“ the IAEA said on X.
Diplomats said the number of IAEA inspectors in Iran was reduced to a handful after the start of the war. Some have also expressed concern about the inspectors’ safety since the end of the conflict, given fierce criticism of the agency by Iranian officials and Iranian media.
Iran has accused the agency of effectively paving the way for the bombings by issuing a damning report on May 31 that led to a resolution by the IAEA’s 35-nation Board of Governors declaring Iran in breach of its non-proliferation obligations.
IAEA chief Rafael Grossi has said he stands by the report. He denied it provided diplomatic cover for military action.
Iran’s parliament has now passed a law suspending cooperation with the IAEA until steps such as ensuring the safety of its nuclear sites are taken. Iran says it is not currently safe for inspectors to return there.
“(Grossi) reiterated the crucial importance of the IAEA discussing with Iran modalities for resuming its indispensable monitoring and verification activities in Iran as soon as possible,“ the IAEA said.
The IAEA has said for days that Iran has not yet officially notified it of any decision to suspend cooperation.
