Iran, IAEA Renew Expired Nuclear Site Inspection Deal

Weekend expiration ends with extension through Iran's June vote

After Friday’s expiry led the IAEA to lose access to photos from Iran nuclear sites over the weekend, the two sides have signed a deal to extend the inspection deal through mid-June, and restore surveillance to the previous levels.

Under this deal, the IAEA will get restored access, and Iran has agreed not to delete any old images, despite one MP suggesting Iran had a right to get rid of some of the images. The IAEA is urging the P5+1 to take advantage oft he extension for a long-term deal at the Vienna talks.

This deal was originally for three months, and the new deal takes it up to the June 18 presidential election in Iran. Barring a permanent deal before then, the IAEA will have to work out extensions with a new administration (President Rouhani is limited to two terms) which may not be serious about keeping on good terms with the IAEA.

This deal, and the fact it came so quickly, are seen as extremely positive for the ongoing Vienna talks, with hopes that the deal will encourage more progress toward a settlement of all the disagreements related to the nuclear pact.

Beyond this deal, some reports are hopeful about progress at the Vienna talks. Despite the US having a pessimistic outlook toward a deal, many negotiators are suggesting that an agreement to restore the nuclear deal is possible.

Author: Jason Ditz

Jason Ditz is Senior Editor for Antiwar.com. He has 20 years of experience in foreign policy research and his work has appeared in The American Conservative, Responsible Statecraft, Forbes, Toronto Star, Minneapolis Star-Tribune, Providence Journal, Washington Times, and the Detroit Free Press.