U.N. Nuclear Chief Leaves Iran Without Deal On Factory Inspection, Diplomats Say

November 24, 2021

Author: 

Laurence Norman

Publication: 

Wall Street Journal

International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director General Rafael Grossi was unable to secure Agency access to Iran's centrifuge manufacturing plant in Karaj after visiting with top officials in Tehran. Iran removed IAEA monitoring equipment from Karaj after an alleged sabotage attempt in June and has not allowed inspectors to see the site despite a September agreement that the Agency claims authorized inspections there. According to unnamed diplomats, Iran conditioned access to the Karaj facility on the IAEA ending its investigation of undeclared nuclear material found at several sites in Iran in 2019, which Grossi reportedly rejected. Grossi told the IAEA's Board of Governors that his talks with Tehran had been "inconclusive".