Iran's Representative at the Agency: No Commitment to Transparency Before Final Agreement

Iran's representative at the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) stated that Tehran cannot commit to implementing the Additional Protocol and other transparency measures until a final nuclear agreement is reached. According to Reuters, Reza Najafi said on Thursday, June 21, that discussions regarding the Additional Protocol and the so-called Code 3.1 are still ongoing, and he believes that we should wait until the final text of the nuclear agreement is ready. He emphasized that Iran cannot make any assumptions at this stage, as nuclear negotiations have not yet concluded. The Additional Protocol grants IAEA inspectors broader access to suspicious sites, while Code 3.1 obligates Iran to notify the agency in advance of any new construction at its nuclear facilities. Recently, access to Iran's military sites has become a contentious issue. The Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic has stated that Iran will not grant such access, while the IAEA and France have noted that a final nuclear agreement with Iran must allow visits to its military facilities. Nevertheless, Iran's representative at the IAEA expressed optimism about reaching a nuclear agreement by the set deadline of July 1. Reuters also reported on statements from Laura Kennedy, the U.S. representative at the IAEA, who raised the issues of Code 3.1 and the Additional Protocol during the agency's Board of Governors meeting on Thursday. She stated that it is crucial for Iran to implement the provisions of the amended Code 3.1 without delay. Ms. Kennedy also emphasized the necessity for Iran to adhere to the IAEA's Additional Protocol, which allows inspectors to inform Iranian officials of their intent to visit suspected sites only two hours before their arrival. Additionally, inspectors will be permitted to collect samples, such as soil, which can be analyzed to detect nuclear activities in the surrounding environment. In this context, the United Nations has reported that it has not received any reports of Iran attempting to violate sanctions. Criticism has emerged from two former Obama administration officials regarding a potential nuclear agreement with Iran. An American official stated that the next round of nuclear negotiations with Iran will be 'very difficult.' Fabius remarked that any agreement with Iran must be verifiable. Reactions to Rouhani's remarks about the importance of lifting sanctions continue, alongside discussions about the changing dynamics of 'proxy wars' and the conflict against the people in the streets of Iran. The first paragraph discusses the responsibility of opponents and the potential radicalization of Iranian society. The last representative of Mossad in Tehran has passed away amid the Iranian crisis.