Israel behind ‘sabotage, contamination’ in disputed sites: Iran’s nuclear agency
Iran on Saturday censured a recent report by the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), pointing the finger at Israel for carrying out acts of “sabotage” and causing “contamination” at the sites where the IAEA claims traces of uranium have been found.
The Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI) published a “clarifying report,” which it had submitted to the agency on May 31, and said the country’s nuclear activities should not be presented as a “matter of concern” by IAEA chief Rafael Grossi since there was “no ambiguity regarding Iran’s current nuclear activities or any diversion in its materials or nuclear operations” in his latest report.
The document addressed four locations—Turquzabad, Marivan, Varamin, and Lavizan-Shian— which had been the focus of IAEA inquiries.
“Iranian security officials have recently, through extensive investigations, uncovered further indications confirming that sabotage or hostile acts were involved in the contamination of those sites,” it said.
The report insisted that “all nuclear materials and activities in Iran have been fully declared to the agency and verified by it,” adding that Iran “has made every effort to identify the origin of such particles at those locations.”
The IAEA has previously reported that uranium particles were discovered at three “undeclared” sites in Iran. The agency’s latest report, which has not been made public but has been seen by some media outlets, reportedly added Lavizan-Shian to the list of disputed sites.
Iran maintains that dispute over those sites had already been resolved in earlier cooperation with the IAEA.
The AEOI report stressed that the new data cited by the agency was provided by “an archenemy of Iran,” which had been “conspiring against Iran’s relationship with the agency” and had been “responsible for sabotage, attacks, and threats of attack against Iran, as well as the assassination of Iranian nuclear scientists.”
“An assessment based on such data calls into question the claim of impartiality and professionalism,” the AEOI report added. “Ironically, the very same entity is a non-NPT member and the only possessor of weapons of mass destruction in the region.”
Israel, which is widely believed to possess hundreds of nuclear warheads but is not a signatory to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), has been linked to acts of sabotage targeting Iranian nuclear sites and the assassination of several Iranian nuclear personnel.
Grossi’s new report on Iran is expected to be discussed at the IAEA’s Board of Governors meeting in Vienna from Monday to Friday.
Iran has strongly condemned the report and slammed the IAEA chief for politicizing the issue.
According to Western diplomats cited by some media outlets, the UK, France, and Germany — with US backing — are expected to propose a draft resolution against Iran, the first of its kind in years. The draft reportedly accuses Tehran of failing to meet its obligations to the agency.
Iran has warned it will take reciprocal measures if the resolution is put to vote.