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Mohammad Eslami, the head of Iran’s Atomic Energy Organization, again denied that Iran has restricted International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) inspectors from entering the country.
Speaking after a cabinet meeting, Eslami asserted that “over 130 inspectors are currently permitted to conduct their activities in Iran.”
The statement comes amid ongoing tensions between Iran and the IAEA, which escalated in September when Tehran opposed the appointment one third of the inspectors.
IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi said at the time that Iran’s “unprecedented” actions had hindered the agency’s inspection capabilities.
“Iran has effectively removed about one third of the core group of the Agency’s most experienced inspectors designated for Iran,” Grossi stated, adding that this impacts the IAEA’s ability to perform effectively.
However, Eslami claimed the barred inspectors exhibited "extremist political behavior," justifying Iran’s decision to ban them.
Grossi recently voiced concerns that Iran is "weeks, not months" away from developing a nuclear weapon capability.
Iran continues to enrich uranium to 60 percent purity, nearing weapon-grade levels, far above the 3.67 percent cap set under the 2015 nuclear agreement with world powers.
Since the US withdrawal from the agreement in 2018 and the reinstatement of sanctions, Iran has surpassed the agreed limits, leading to declarations from the IAEA that the 2015 deal has "all but disintegrated."
