Amano: The Agency Has Had Full Access to All Locations Until Today

Yukiya Amano, the Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), stated that his organization has had "full access to all locations that needed to be visited" up until now. In an interview with the Financial Times on November 7, prior to his meeting with Nikki Haley, the U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, Amano expressed his desire to clarify many "misunderstandings" surrounding the agreement. He had previously hosted Ms. Haley in Vienna, the IAEA's headquarters, during the summer, where she emphasized the issue of inspecting Iran's military facilities. In this interview, Amano mentioned that IAEA inspectors can visit Iran's military sites if they wish, and he claimed that the role of such sites in monitoring Iran's nuclear program has been "exaggerated." U.S. officials have called for access to military sites for verification of Iran's nuclear program, but Iranian military and political officials have responded that such visits will not be permitted. Amano also told the Financial Times that Iran can help maintain the agreement and added: "If Iran provides an initial statement regarding Section T of the JCPOA, it will assist the existing process." Section T refers to part of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) concerning nuclear commitments, which addresses "activities that could contribute to the design and development of a nuclear explosive device." According to Amano, this section is not related to access issues but rather concerns dual-use technology, which the agency verifies through the Additional Protocol. He stated that Iran, which is currently voluntarily implementing the Additional Protocol, would help this process if the protocol is ratified. Based on the JCPOA, when the transition day arrives, eight years after the agreement date, or when the agency presents its comprehensive conclusions about Iran's program, the EU and the U.S. will act to lift sanctions completely, and Iran will pursue the ratification of the Additional Protocol. However, Amano now says that if Iran ratifies the protocol, it will help negate the approach that the agreement's provisions have sunset clauses and expiration dates. One of the issues raised by critics in the U.S. and other countries is that Iran's commitments will eventually end, allowing Tehran to continue its nuclear program normally. Conversely, the prospect of the permanent ratification and implementation of the Additional Protocol, which grants the agency greater access for verification of nuclear programs, is one reason that supporters of the JCPOA argue it prevents Iran's nuclear program from becoming militarized. Meanwhile, there is about a month left for the U.S. Congress to decide on continuing U.S. participation in this agreement. Despite the IAEA's repeated confirmations, the United States has accused Iran of violating the "spirit of the JCPOA" due to missile tests and what it calls "destabilizing peace and stability" in the Middle East since Donald Trump's presidency began in January. The U.S. President stated on October 14 that he cannot certify Iran's compliance with this agreement. Trump also emphasized that the U.S. withdrawal from the JCPOA is highly likely. Meanwhile, the IAEA Director General and the EU's foreign policy chief, Federica Mogherini, are among senior officials traveling to the U.S. to defend this agreement. Iranians are also continuing their activities in this regard. For instance, Majid Takht-Ravanchi, a deputy foreign minister of Iran, on Tuesday in Paris, asked European countries to clarify what actions they would take if the U.S. withdraws from the JCPOA.