Iran Releases Video of Moment IAEA Cameras Were Switched Off
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – The Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI) released footage showing the moment when two of the International Atomic Energy Agency’s surveillance cameras recording data beyond the Safeguards Agreement in the country were turned off.
In a statement on Wednesday, the AEOI said while Tehran has extensively cooperated with the UN nuclear agency, the IAEA has unfortunately ignored the fact that such cooperation signifies Iran’s goodwill, has been ungrateful for the cooperation, and has considered it as a duty of Iran.
As a result, Iran decided to shut off the ultra-Safeguards Agreement cameras monitoring enrichment levels (OLEM or Online Enrichment Monitor) and flowmeters of the IAEA as of Wednesday, June 8, it added.
However, the statement noted, more than 80 percent of the IAEA’s cameras in Iran have access to data within the framework of the Safeguards Agreement which will continue to operate as before.
Later in the day, AEOI spokesperson said Tehran is mulling over “additional measures” after turning off the IAEA surveillance cameras amid rising tensions over IAEA’s political agendas.
In a televised interview on Wednesday, Behrouz Kamalvandi said Iran has decided to stop its voluntary cooperation with the UN nuclear agency, which was outside the purview of the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty (NPT) safeguards agreement and offered as a goodwill gesture, while stressing that Iran's commitments under the agreement will continue.
“Unfortunately, the IAEA's behavior was not a proper response to such cooperation (between the two sides)... We accordingly chose to cease part of our cooperation that was outside the safeguards agreement… including the operation of the IAEA’s surveillance cameras for the OLEM as well as the flow meter,” Kamalvandi stressed.
Iran ratified the NPT in 1970, which requires nonnuclear-weapon states to accept comprehensive IAEA safeguards. Four years later, Tehran concluded a comprehensive safeguards agreement with the IAEA.
As a goodwill gesture, Iran voluntarily chose to have extensive cooperation with the UN nuclear agency, beyond the safeguards agreement.
In his remarks on Wednesday, Kamalvandi noted that the collected data was not supposed to be shared unless Iran’s conditions were accepted, emphasizing that the latest measure was in line with the Strategic Action Plan to Counter Sanctions.
The law was passed by the Iranian parliament in December 2020, following the assassination of top nuclear scientist Mohsen Fakhrizadeh, prompting the government to restrict the IAEA’s inspections and accelerate the development of the country’s nuclear program beyond the limits set under the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).
“We plan other steps. We expect them to come to their senses, and reciprocate Iran’s cooperation. It is not acceptable for Iran to continue cooperation, whilst the other side does not show proper behavior,” he said.
The senior Iranian nuclear official highlighted that 80 percent of the IAEA’s surveillance cameras are functioning under the safeguards agreement, stressing that Tehran is committed to the treaty and will continue its nuclear activities.