Last Saturday, the director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) publicly stated that Iran had revoked the accreditations of several experienced IAEA inspectors, including its most qualified experts in nuclear uranium enrichment technologies, which they possess. a unique knowledge. Iran’s actions will call into question the Agency’s ability to effectively exercise its safeguards mandate. As the Director General makes clear in his statement, Iran’s actions constitute another step in the wrong direction, as well as a senseless attack on the “already strained relationship between Iran and the Agency.”

Iran continues to advance its nuclear activities. It is now also deliberately obstructing the planning and regular conduct of the Agency’s verification and surveillance activities in Iran, which are required by the safeguards agreement signed by Iran with the Agency under the Non-Proliferation Treaty. This comes as the IAEA has serious and long-standing unresolved questions about Iran’s undeclared nuclear materials and activities, which it has not responded to for more than four years. We join and support the Director General in his strong condemnation of this latest “unilateral and unprecedented” measure, which he believes will have serious repercussions on the Agency’s ability to carry out its verification activities.

Iran must reverse the revocation of the accreditations of these inspectors and cooperate fully with the Agency to enable it to ensure the exclusively peaceful nature of the Iranian nuclear program. France, Germany, the United Kingdom and the United States will continue to provide their strong support to the Agency and the international safeguards verification regime on which global security depends.

In light of the Iranian actions, we will take note of any additional information on the impact of this measure on the Agency’s ability to exercise its essential verification mandate. We will respond based on the Director General’s next reports.