BICOM

United States and European representatives at the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) heavily criticised Iran’s delay tactics hampering the body’s investigation into Tehran’s nuclear programme.

The board of the IAEA, which is the United Nations’ nuclear watchdog, met yesterday in Vienna. During the meeting, United States’ representative Joseph Macmanus strongly rebuked Iran for its “unwavering commitment to deception, defiance, and delay” in addressing IAEA concerns over its nuclear development. Macmanus then warned, “Iran is inviting further isolation, pressure and censure from the international community until it meets its obligations and addresses the board’s concerns.”

Meanwhile, the European Union (EU) delegation issued a statement calling on Iran to halt its uranium enrichment and described the most recent IAEA quarterly report on Iran as “dismal reading” and “cause for serious concern.” The report concluded that Iran has not reduced its uranium enrichment over the last three months and that it has installed new advanced centrifuges at the Natanz plant, which could significantly increase the speed of enrichment towards near-weapons grade material. The European statement also accused Iran of obstructing the IAEA investigation into its nuclear activities, saying “The EU considers … Iran’s procrastination to be unacceptable.” In particular, Iran has refused to allow IAEA inspectors access to key documents and sites including the Parchin plant, where it is suspected nuclear ballistic tests may have been carried out.

In a further display of tension at yesterday’s meeting, US representative Macmanus walked out of the gathering alongside representatives from Canada and Australia in protest after Iran’s representative accused Israel of “genocide” during a debate on Syria.