Iran Describes Nikki Haley's Meeting with Yukiya Amano as 'Violation of JCPOA by the U.S.'

Iran's Foreign Minister described Nikki Haley's visit to Vienna to meet Yukiya Amano, the Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), as part of what he called the U.S.'s violation of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA). On Wednesday, September 1, Mohammad Javad Zarif expressed concerns in a letter to Federica Mogherini, the EU's foreign policy chief, and Yukiya Amano, stating that the announced goals of Ms. Haley's visit could undermine the credibility of the Agency. After her meeting with Amano, U.S. Ambassador to the UN Nikki Haley stated that Washington wants to ensure that the IAEA has sufficient resources and capabilities to verify Iran's nuclear activities. According to the Associated Press, the U.S. Ambassador's office released a statement after the meeting, indicating that Haley conveyed Washington's concerns about Iran's compliance with the nuclear agreement with world powers and emphasized that Iran must strictly adhere to its commitments. She also praised the 'credibility, professionalism, and seriousness' of the IAEA in monitoring Iran's activities and verifying them, but added that the Agency's reports can only be accurate if inspectors can access the sites Iran has committed to. Before her meeting with Yukiya Amano, Haley stated that Washington wants to know whether the IAEA has plans to visit Iran's military sites to verify the country's nuclear activities and commitments. She noted that Tehran had previously conducted covert activities at military, academic, or other sites, raising the question of whether international inspectors can inspect 'any suspicious site' or if they lack such authority. Haley's statements and her trip to Vienna prompted a protest from Mohammad Javad Zarif, who published an open letter to Yukiya Amano and Federica Mogherini on Wednesday. Zarif deemed Haley's visit to Vienna and her discussions with Amano about Iran's commitments as 'contrary to the JCPOA,' arguing that the purpose of this visit was to pressure Iran regarding its compliance with the nuclear agreement. Zarif further stated: 'The announced purpose of this visit raises serious concerns about further violations of the text and spirit of the JCPOA and Resolution 2231, which could also undermine the credibility of the Agency.' He noted that 'even before this meeting occurs, the way it is planned and publicly announced, along with the message it sends, has significant destructive consequences for the successful implementation of the JCPOA... and is an example of the U.S. government's bad faith aimed at limiting Iran's benefits from the agreement.' The Iranian Foreign Minister reminded that the Agency must 'respect the necessary security regulations and individuals' rights; and take all necessary precautions to protect industrial, technological, and commercial secrets and other confidential information it receives.' He concluded by stating: 'Providing any information regarding Iran and its nuclear activities that is not included in the regular reports of the Director General submitted to the Agency's Board of Governors will not comply with regulations for any third party, including the U.S. government envoy.' Tehran asserts that military sites are part of its security domain and will not allow inspections of them.