This article is from the source 'nytimes' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.nytimes.com/2022/06/08/world/middleeast/iran-nuclear-iaea-cameras.html

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Iran Turns Off U.N. Surveillance Cameras at Nuclear Site Iran Turns Off U.N. Surveillance Cameras at Nuclear Site
(about 3 hours later)
Iran has turned off two surveillance cameras used by the U.N. watchdog agency to monitor a nuclear site, state television reported on Wednesday, the latest sign of rising tensions with world powers over the revival of a 2015 deal that limited Iranian nuclear activities in exchange for the easing of international economic sanctions.Iran has turned off two surveillance cameras used by the U.N. watchdog agency to monitor a nuclear site, state television reported on Wednesday, the latest sign of rising tensions with world powers over the revival of a 2015 deal that limited Iranian nuclear activities in exchange for the easing of international economic sanctions.
The Atomic Energy Organization of Iran removed two cameras surveying an “online enrichment monitor” installed by the United Nations’ International Atomic Energy Agency to monitor uranium enrichment, according to Iran’s Press TV. The report went on to say that more than 80 percent of the U.N. agency’s cameras would continue to operate as before under safeguard agreements.The Atomic Energy Organization of Iran removed two cameras surveying an “online enrichment monitor” installed by the United Nations’ International Atomic Energy Agency to monitor uranium enrichment, according to Iran’s Press TV. The report went on to say that more than 80 percent of the U.N. agency’s cameras would continue to operate as before under safeguard agreements.
Iran’s move comes after a snag in its negotiations with world powers over resurrecting the 2015 nuclear deal, which placed limits on the country’s enrichment of uranium. Russia is one of the signatories to the 2015 deal and its war on Ukraine has further complicated the nuclear talks. Iran’s move comes after a snag in its negotiations with world powers over resurrecting the 2015 nuclear deal, which placed limits on the country’s enrichment of uranium. Russia is one of the signatories to the 2015 deal, and its war on Ukraine has further complicated the nuclear talks.
World powers are expected to censure Iran this week over advances in its nuclear program, further escalating tensions. The United States, Britain, Germany and France submitted a resolution to the I.A.E.A’s board of governors at its quarterly meeting this week criticizing Iran for failing to fully address the nuclear agency’s questions over traces of uranium detected at locations that have not been declared nuclear sites. World powers censured Iran this week over advances in its nuclear program, which is expected to further escalate tensions. The United States, Britain, Germany and France submitted a resolution to the I.A.E.A’s board of governors at its quarterly meeting criticizing Iran for failing to fully address the nuclear agency’s questions over traces of uranium detected at locations that have not been declared nuclear sites. The resolution, which was opposed by Russia and China, passed on Wednesday.
The resolution is opposed by Russia and likely to anger Tehran.
The nuclear watchdog said on Wednesday that it was aware of the latest reports from Iran but declined to comment further. Iranian state media reported that the country’s nuclear agency had insisted it cooperated extensively with the I.A.E.A., but that the international agency did not appreciate its good will.The nuclear watchdog said on Wednesday that it was aware of the latest reports from Iran but declined to comment further. Iranian state media reported that the country’s nuclear agency had insisted it cooperated extensively with the I.A.E.A., but that the international agency did not appreciate its good will.
Earlier this week, the U.N. nuclear watchdog said that Iran was close to having a “significant quantity” of enriched uranium, meaning enough to make a nuclear weapon.Earlier this week, the U.N. nuclear watchdog said that Iran was close to having a “significant quantity” of enriched uranium, meaning enough to make a nuclear weapon.
“It’s a matter of just a few weeks,” Rafael Mariano Grossi, the U.N. agency’s director general, told its board of governors on Monday. But he went on to say that this did not mean Iran had already created such a weapon and stressed the importance of I.A.E.A. inspectors having access to the country’s nuclear sites.“It’s a matter of just a few weeks,” Rafael Mariano Grossi, the U.N. agency’s director general, told its board of governors on Monday. But he went on to say that this did not mean Iran had already created such a weapon and stressed the importance of I.A.E.A. inspectors having access to the country’s nuclear sites.
France, Germany and Britain said in a statement to the nuclear watchdog’s board on Tuesday that they were “deeply concerned” about Iran’s nuclear advances, warning that the country was further reducing the breakout time — or the time it would take to make a quick leap toward manufacturing a nuclear weapon. They said this was engendering distrust over Iran’s intentions.France, Germany and Britain said in a statement to the nuclear watchdog’s board on Tuesday that they were “deeply concerned” about Iran’s nuclear advances, warning that the country was further reducing the breakout time — or the time it would take to make a quick leap toward manufacturing a nuclear weapon. They said this was engendering distrust over Iran’s intentions.
“We strongly urge Iran to stop escalating its nuclear program,” their statement said, adding that a deal was “on the table” and Iran should conclude it urgently, because the terms being offered would not be available indefinitely.“We strongly urge Iran to stop escalating its nuclear program,” their statement said, adding that a deal was “on the table” and Iran should conclude it urgently, because the terms being offered would not be available indefinitely.
Those expressions of concern led up to Iran’s announcement on Wednesday.Those expressions of concern led up to Iran’s announcement on Wednesday.
Iran has long maintained that its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes only. An assessment by American intelligence agencies some years ago, however, concluded that the country once had a nuclear weapons program, but halted it in 2003.Iran has long maintained that its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes only. An assessment by American intelligence agencies some years ago, however, concluded that the country once had a nuclear weapons program, but halted it in 2003.
The Press TV report did not identify the facility where the surveillance cameras had been turned off, but said the operation of these cameras was “deemed beyond the obligations” laid out in an Iranian agreement with the international watchdog on nuclear safeguards.The Press TV report did not identify the facility where the surveillance cameras had been turned off, but said the operation of these cameras was “deemed beyond the obligations” laid out in an Iranian agreement with the international watchdog on nuclear safeguards.
An “online enrichment monitor” at the Natanz uranium enrichment facility was installed in 2016 and the I.A.E.A. said at the time that it would help assure the world that Iran would fulfill its nuclear-related commitments.An “online enrichment monitor” at the Natanz uranium enrichment facility was installed in 2016 and the I.A.E.A. said at the time that it would help assure the world that Iran would fulfill its nuclear-related commitments.
Last year, Tehran said that it had begun enriching uranium to 60 percent at Natanz, after an Israeli attack on the plant while talks on the nuclear deal were stalled.Last year, Tehran said that it had begun enriching uranium to 60 percent at Natanz, after an Israeli attack on the plant while talks on the nuclear deal were stalled.
Iran is also enriching uranium at Fordow, a nuclear facility embedded inside a mountain at a based protected by the powerful Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps.Iran is also enriching uranium at Fordow, a nuclear facility embedded inside a mountain at a based protected by the powerful Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps.
The U.N. watchdog said Iran had been withholding footage from its monitoring of its nuclear sites since 2021.The U.N. watchdog said Iran had been withholding footage from its monitoring of its nuclear sites since 2021.
“The I.A.E.A. has been without crucial access to data on centrifuge and component manufacturing for a year and half now,” the statement by Germany, France and Britain said on Tuesday. “This means that neither the agency, nor the international community, know how many centrifuges Iran has in its inventory, how many were built, and where they may be located.”“The I.A.E.A. has been without crucial access to data on centrifuge and component manufacturing for a year and half now,” the statement by Germany, France and Britain said on Tuesday. “This means that neither the agency, nor the international community, know how many centrifuges Iran has in its inventory, how many were built, and where they may be located.”
Mr. Grossi also told the agency’s board on Monday that Iran has not provided credible explanations for the watchdog’s discovery of nuclear material at three undeclared locations. Nonetheless, he said, it was important for the agency to keep engaging with Iran.Mr. Grossi also told the agency’s board on Monday that Iran has not provided credible explanations for the watchdog’s discovery of nuclear material at three undeclared locations. Nonetheless, he said, it was important for the agency to keep engaging with Iran.