The Agency's Review Process of Iran's Centrifuge Collection Begins

Iran's representative to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) announced that the 'checklist' review process by agency inspectors has begun to report on the collection of Iran's centrifuges at the Natanz and Fordow nuclear facilities, and that inspectors are currently present at these sites. Reza Najafi, in an interview with the Saturday, December 26 issue of the newspaper Etemad, also stated that during Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's presidency, permission was granted for 'over 100 instances of technical access and discussions with Iran's nuclear scientists.' He noted that the checklist process has started regarding the collection of centrifuges at the Natanz and Fordow facilities, and that 'the inspectors are present.' According to Mr. Najafi, once the number of Iran's centrifuges reaches the figure mentioned in the Vienna nuclear agreement, the inspectors will submit their report. The Iranian representative at the IAEA stated, 'The agency inspectors have previously been present at our facilities based on safeguard regulations, and now that the JCPOA is set to be implemented, this process will be more precise.' Reports indicate that Iran has been preparing for the implementation of the Vienna nuclear agreement for several months. Meanwhile, officials of the Islamic Republic have expressed hope that with the announcement of the implementation day of the Vienna nuclear agreement, Western sanctions against Iran will be lifted. Under the nuclear agreement, Tehran must reduce its enriched uranium stockpile to about 300 kilograms and limit its centrifuges to 5,060 units, as well as remove the heavy water reservoir from the Arak reactor. In recent months, Iranian officials have reported that the collection of centrifuges at Iran's nuclear facilities has begun. Additionally, Ali Akbar Salehi, head of Iran's Atomic Energy Organization, announced on Saturday, December 19, that about 9 tons of Iran's enriched uranium will be 'exported' to Russia in the coming days. The IAEA Board of Governors approved a resolution on Tuesday, December 15, which closed the case related to Iran's alleged efforts to build nuclear weapons. Mr. Najafi further stated that Iran had granted access to IAEA inspectors to the Parchin area twice in 2005, during which 'over 20 instances' of sampling were conducted in this military area. According to Mr. Najafi, during these two occasions, '16 locations' within Parchin were visited, and inspectors conducted 'direct sampling' from '44 sites.' He added, 'Over 100 instances of technical access and discussions with scientists were also granted during that period, but Iran's case at the agency did not become lighter after these cooperations; rather, it became heavier.' Mohammad Javad Zarif, foreign minister during Hassan Rouhani's administration, stated on Tuesday, May 25, that during the previous Iranian government, agency officials had interviewed Iran's nuclear scientists. The day after that, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's office described Mr. Zarif's statements as 'absolute falsehood.' However, some Iranian media, including the newspaper Shargh, reported that IAEA reports in 2007 emphasized interviews with 'individuals' and stated that 'Iran has provided sufficient access to individuals.' In this context, the head of Iran's Atomic Energy Organization stated that two thousand centrifuges have been dismantled. Moul: Iran has collected more than five thousand of its centrifuges. Araghchi: The collected centrifuges have been inactive.