Iran’s top nuclear official on Friday demanded the International Atomic Energy Agency declare a position on the U.S. and Israeli strikes on the Islamic republic’s nuclear facilities last June.
Mohammad Eslami, the head of Iran’s Atomic Energy Organization, said IAEA inspectors would not be allowed to visit Iran’s damaged enrichment facilities until it declares a position on the strikes and outlines a response protocol.
“When a military strike occurs and there are environmental risks, it must be defined and a guideline must be designed,” Mr. Eslami said. “The agency has to clarify its position regarding the military attacks on the nuclear facilities that have been registered by the agency and are under its supervision, so we can understand what role they play,” state TV quoted Eslami as having told reporters in Tehran on Thursday.”
Three of Iran’s most heavily fortified nuclear enrichment sites at Natanz, Fordow and Isfahan were severely damaged during U.S. bombing operations in late June at the tail end of the Islamic republic’s 12-day war with Israel.
The sites have not been inspected since the June war, sparking intense concern among international watchdog organizations, which have urged Iran to reopen the sites for inspection. But Tehran has resisted calls for inspections by the IAEA fiercely, blaming the U.N.-backed organization for giving Israel a justification for its preeminent strikes in June.
On Tuesday, IAEA Director-General Rafael Mariano Grossi once again pleaded with Iran to reopen the damaged sites for inspection. He added that, despite Iran’s protests, IAEA inspectors have been able to inspect 13 of Iran’s undamaged nuclear enrichment sites since June.
• Vaughn Cockayne can be reached at vcockayne@washingtontimes.com.
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