Iran declared to keep IAEA cameras turned off after receiving criticism of the country’s nuclear program

Iran’s Atomic Energy Organisation reportedly said they would turn off the United Nations’ IAEA cameras until the nuclear deal of 2015 is restored on July 25. The UN’s International Atomic Energy Agency or IAEA member states are responsible for conducting standard radiological procedures and reporting their activities regarding the development of a safe nuclear industry.

Iran’s nuclear agreement is known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) which was conducted between Iran and other world leaders including the U.S. in July 2015. According to the JCPOA, Iran would be conducting an open nuclear program by giving access to the international powers for inspections in exchange for removing billion-dollar sanctions imposed on the country. The purpose of the JCPOA was to minimize the development of conflict between Iran and its surrounding neighbors including Israel and Saudi Arabia. Iran’s JCPOA deal was threatened when the U.S. removed itself from the deal under Donald Trump’s presidency in 2018. Meanwhile, Iran initiated its nuclear activities to which current U.S. President Joe Biden asked Iran to come under compliance if they want the U.S. to return to the deal.

The Board Governors of 35 nations of the IAEA members criticized Iran for not revealing traces of uranium use found in three undeclared sites in June. Iran’s chief of nuclear operations Mohammad Eslami said that Iran would not agree to explain the traces of uranium used in the nation’s nuclear development to the members of the IAEA. He added, “The claimed PMD cases and locations were closed under the nuclear accord and if they (West) are sincere, they should know that closed items will not be reopened. The basis of the nuclear accord was a response to these alleged cases.”

Reportedly Iran removed the IAEA equipment including 27 cameras installed under the deal of the JCPOA in 2015. The head of nuclear operations Eslami said, “We will not turn on the IAEA cameras until the other side returns to the nuclear deal,” Eslami said. We will decide about the cameras added under the nuclear deal after the Westerners return to the accord and we are sure they won’t do anything mischievous.”

Iran’s spokesperson of the Foreign Ministry further criticized IAEA Chief Rafael Grossi for his “unprofessional, unfair, and unconstructive views,” regarding Iran’s nuclear program.