Fears about a 3-month deal for access between the IAEA and Iran were realized over the weekend, when starting Saturday Iran has refused to give inspectors access to surveillance photos from the nuclear sites.
Iran is allowed to do this, because the images were part of the Additional Protocol, which Iran had voluntarily complied with before. Iran’s parliament wanted them to stop a lot of the extra compliance, and Iran worked out a 3-month pact with the IAEA on the matter.
The problem was that was 3 months ago, and expired Friday, despite talks aiming to extend them. The IAEA confirms that it has tamper-proof seals on everything, but didn’t immediately comment on the images.
There were calls from an MP to delete some of the images, since the IAEA doesn’t have rights to them without this deal. This is unconfirmed, and it’s not obvious what benefit it would have for anyone, as any space where information is lacking is going to produce more idle speculation.
Iran made a deal with the IAEA, stuck to the deal, and now the deal has expired. Iran was in compliance, and still is in compliance. So why the manufactured outrage? Iran is the only nation to have observed the JCPOA as intended.
Iran also signed the NPT in 1968, something Israel has not done, and, Iran ratified it in 1970.
Iran has been in compliance for 50 years. What does Iran have to show for it? Constant harassment from us, and a manufactured war with Iraq. There are two problems here: 1) U.S., 2) Israel.
Back out of a deal, and lose the benefits of that deal.
Surprised?
Complaining about it?
The plain bad faith assumes Americans are plain stupid. It seems many of us might be.