Iran Confirms Installation of 'About 10 Cameras' at Natanz Facilities

The spokesperson for Iran's Atomic Energy Organization announced that out of 29 cameras and devices collected from the International Atomic Energy Agency, about 10 cameras have been activated in Natanz. Behrouz Kamalvandi added that the information stored in the cameras will remain with the Islamic Republic until an agreement is reached with the agency and is not accessible. According to him, there is no online inspection at Iran's nuclear facilities; 'only the enrichment output of 60% at Fordow and Natanz has a gamma meter, which is a safeguard.' Kamalvandi pointed out that the Islamic Republic does not agree to appoint inspectors who are citizens of 'the U.S., Canada, and some other countries,' adding that security agencies review the records of all inspectors and 'even if security considerations require it after the issuance of a permit, that permit can be revoked.' The spokesperson stated that the monitoring at Fordow is a safeguard and no additional cameras have been installed there. He continued by saying that negotiations with the agency regarding two locations, Torqozabad and Varamin, are ongoing. Kamalvandi's remarks came two days after Matthew Miller, the spokesperson for the U.S. State Department, described any 'nuclear agreement, whether temporary or non-temporary,' as 'false and misleading.' Reuters reported, citing an Iranian official, that Washington and Tehran are seeking to reduce tensions. He said, 'Call it whatever you want; a temporary agreement, a temporary understanding, or a bilateral understanding - both sides want to prevent an escalation of tensions.' This Iranian official claimed that the first phase of such an agreement or understanding would revolve around prisoner exchanges and the release of some of Iran's frozen funds. He stated that in subsequent steps, a sanctions exemption for Iran's oil exports in exchange for halting 60% enrichment and further cooperation with the agency could be achieved. Reuters also cited a Western official stating that the U.S. and Iran have reached some form of 'calming understanding.' According to him, Brett McGurk, a National Security Council official at the White House, and Ali Bagheri Kani, Iran's chief negotiator, have had 'more than one round of indirect negotiations' with each other in Oman. The Persian section of Voice of America has inquired about U.S. officials' reactions to these statements and will provide responses to the audience as soon as they are received. According to this Western official, the goal of these negotiations is to create 'an acceptable status quo' for all, under which Iran does not cross the red line of 90% enrichment and even halts 60% enrichment. He stated that the Biden administration's main goal in this matter is to prevent the worsening of Iran's nuclear program situation and to prevent military confrontation between Israel and the Islamic Republic. This Western official emphasized, 'If the Iranians make a miscalculation, the likelihood of a severe Israeli response is something we want to prevent.' According to Reuters, it appears that U.S. officials are deliberately avoiding the use of the term 'agreement' because, under a law passed by Congress in 2015, Congress must have access to the text of any agreement regarding Iran's nuclear program, which could itself prevent its finalization. Meanwhile, Michael McCaul, chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, expressed opposition to 'the government's possible decision to negotiate with the Islamic Republic' and wrote in a letter to Joe Biden, 'I was disappointed to hear recent news that the White House is seeking a new nuclear agreement with the Islamic Republic without informing Congress.' According to McCaul, any agreement that 'merely limits' the Islamic Republic's nuclear program, without fully ending it, undermines global non-proliferation norms and poses a serious threat to U.S. national security.