IAEA Chief Warns Iran Nuclear Program May Be Galloping Ahead

 

Monitoring difficult without special agreements

by Jason Ditz 

Posted onJuly 22, 2022CategoriesNewsTagsIAEA, Iran

IAEA Chief Rafael Grossi often makes things with regard to the Iran nuclear program sound worse than they really are, and today accused Iran of “galloping ahead,” though it’s clear he’s not in a position to know that.

The specifics make it clear that Grossi is upset at lack of monitoring access, and lack of oversight, and that for all he knows Iran might well have advanced its activities a lot.

Special monitoring deals are not in place right now, and Grossi warned they might need such agreements in the future to just figure out what’s going on right now, let alone in the future. He has failed to negotiate such agreements time and again.

Without those agreements, the lack of visibility is entirely expected, and does not show that Iran is doing anything different. Grossi’s warning that time is running out on making a deal just echoes what other nations are saying, and he is forever an echo for the US-led reticence for diplomacy.

Ironically, all of the IAEA’s responsibilities would be greatly enhanced by a proper diplomatic deal and the restoration of sideline monitoring pacts, but Grossi’s comments must make Iran wonder if he can be trusted in the best of circumstances.

https://news.antiwar.com/2022/07/22/iaea-chief-warns-iran-nuclear-program-may-be-galloping-ahead/