Iran could expel UN nuclear inspectors if sanctions are not eased
On Saturday, a lawmaker reported that Iran would expel United Nations nuclear watchdog inspectors if sanctions are not eased by a Feb. 21 deadline fixed by the hard-line-dominated parliament.
In November, Parliament approved a law that obliges the government to stop inspections of its nuclear sites by the International Atomic Energy Agency and increase uranium enrichment beyond the limit established under Tehran’s 2015 nuclear deal if sanctions are not lifted. Iran’s Guardian Council watchdog body approved the law on Dec. 2 and the government stated that it would achieve it.
In fact, parliamentarian Ahmad Amirabadi Farahani said: According to the law, if the Americans do not lift financial, banking and oil sanctions by Feb. 21, we will definitely expel the IAEA inspectors from the country and will definitely end the voluntary implementation of the Additional Protocol.
According to The Associated Press, the comments, referring to texts governing the IAEA’s mission and activities, were transmitted to many Iranian media outlets.
On Monday, Iran related that it had continued 20% uranium enrichment at an underground nuclear facility, violating the nuclear pact with major powers and maybe complicating US President-elect Joe Biden’s efforts to rejoin the deal.
Indeed, Iran starts violating the deal in 2019 in response to US President Donald Trump’s withdrawal from it in 2018 and the reimposition of US sanctions eased under the agreement, and Tehran frequently declared that it could rapidly reverse its violation if Washington’s sanctions are removed.
