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Iranian flag in front of the headquarters of the IAEA in Vienna
Photo: Leonhard Foeger / REUTERS
Contrary to recent promises, Iran is blocking full monitoring of its nuclear program.
This was reported by the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Rafael Grossi, in a special report.
According to a spokesman for the agency, Iran is denying IAEA inspectors access to a workshop that makes parts for centrifuges for uranium enrichment.
The IAEA and the international community are concerned about the expansion of Iranian enrichment facilities with increasingly powerful centrifuges.
The processed uranium has such a high degree of purity that it could be processed into weapons-grade material relatively quickly.
Grossi had reached an agreement with Tehran on September 12th, according to which the IAEA may again maintain its monitoring devices and exchange storage media in order to guarantee the seamless control of the controversial nuclear program.
According to Grossi's report, the agreement was implemented everywhere except in the centrifuge workshop in Karaj.
There was an incident there in June in which IAEA cameras were severely damaged.
Iranian media spoke of a failed act of sabotage at the time.
Maas urges them to return to the negotiating table
In response to the US pulling out of the 2015 nuclear deal, Iran has been ignoring agreed nuclear restrictions since 2019, which should make it difficult to develop nuclear weapons.
The negotiations to save the pact, in which Germany is also involved, have been suspended since June.
Federal Foreign Minister Heiko Maas (SPD) recently urged Iran to return to the negotiating table.
In a conversation with Iranian Foreign Minister Hussein Amirabdollahian on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly, he stated that he expected the talks to resume "not in months, but as soon as possible."
“We are willing to end this on a positive note.
We know that the Americans are also willing and ready to lift sanctions, ”Maas emphasized.
lau / dpa / Reuters