Joint Statement by France, Germany, Britain, and the United States; Iran's Actions are Another Step in the Wrong Direction

Following the suspension of the appointment of several International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) inspectors in Iran and the Islamic Republic's obstruction of the agency's activities, France, Germany, Britain, and the United States issued a joint statement on Monday describing the actions of the Islamic Republic as another step in the wrong direction. The joint statement noted that Rafael Grossi, the Director General of the IAEA, stated that Iran has suspended the activities of several experienced agency inspectors, including its most experienced experts with unique knowledge in uranium enrichment technology. The joint statement described this action by Iran as an obstacle to the effective implementation of the agency's safeguards mission, stating, 'As the Director General emphasizes in his statement, Iran's actions are another step in the wrong direction and will deal an unnecessary blow to the already strained relations between the IAEA and Iran.' The statement also referred to the expansion of Iran's nuclear activities, indicating that Iran is now deliberately obstructing the normal planning and execution of the agency's verification and monitoring in Iran, which it is obligated to comply with under the NPT safeguards agreement. Furthermore, the statement mentioned that this decision by Iran was made at a time when 'the IAEA has serious, long-standing, and unresolved questions regarding undeclared nuclear materials and activities in Iran, to which Iran has failed to respond for over four years.' The four countries, known as the 1+3, called on Iran to cooperate with the agency to ensure that 'Iran's nuclear program is exclusively peaceful.' The European Union expressed concern over the suspension of 'several experienced inspectors' from the agency in Iran, while Qatar also urged the Islamic Republic to cooperate with the IAEA. A statement from 63 countries at the Board of Governors meeting called on the Islamic Republic to respond to the agency's questions. The 'Board of Governors' meeting has begun; the Islamic Republic's nuclear program remains on the agenda. The agency reported that Iran's stockpile of enriched uranium is increasing close to weapons-grade levels.