Iran does not refuse IAEA inspections, but if individual inspectors undermine Tehran’s confidence in themselves through their activities, they will be expelled, Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi said at a press conference.
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“Iran is not saying at all that we shouldn’t have inspections. So we’ve had very good cooperation with the IAEA. As for individuals who may be making efforts that undermine the level of trust that Iran has placed in them, we are targeting those specific persons, and not to inspections as such,” Raisi said.
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“Of course, if for compelling reasons a lack of trust in certain specific inspectors becomes obvious, they will definitely be returned (expelled). But inspectors who have not given reason for a lack of trust can definitely continue their activities,” he added.
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Earlier, the IAEA reported that Iran had decided to revoke the accreditation of several agency inspectors involved in inspections at Iranian nuclear facilities under the Safeguards Agreement of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT). The organization called on Iran to reconsider the decision.
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Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Nasser Kanaani said that Tehran has the right to refuse accreditation to IAEA inspectors on the basis of Article 9 of the NPT Safeguards Agreement.
