Iran stops snap inspections of its nuclear sites as it pressures Joe Biden to lift sanctions

Iran has called a halt to ‘snap’ nuclear inspections as leaders pile pressure on the US to rejoin a nuclear treaty that was torn up by Donald Trump.

Tehran had threatened to suspend most inspections starting Sunday if the United States failed to lift sanctions and return to the terms of the treaty.

But after a visit by Rafael Grossi, head of the UN’s International Atomic Energy Agency, Iran agreed a ‘temporary solution’ that would keep most inspections running while granting diplomats more time to negotiate.

However, Grossi was forced to admit that unannounced inspections of previously-undeclared nuclear facilities will not be allowed under the temporary deal.

Iran has called a halt to snap inspections of its nuclear sites as it tries to pressure the US to lift sanctions (file image, a complex at Fordo in central Iran which is though to form part of its nuclear programme)

Iran had been due to halt most inspections on Sunday, but negotiated a temporary deal with UN diplomats (pictured in talks) that keeps most inspections going but halts snap probes

Iran had been due to halt most inspections on Sunday, but negotiated a temporary deal with UN diplomats (pictured in talks) that keeps most inspections going but halts snap probes

In theory, the move makes it easier for Iran to conceal aspects of its nuclear programme from western eyes.

Iran insists the programme exists for peaceful purposes and is merely designed to produce power for the country.

But Israel and western critics of the Iran deal, which was signed under Obama, say Iran is secretly pursuing nuclear weapons.  

Grossi said that under the new ‘temporary technical understanding… there is less access, let’s face it’.

‘But still we were able to retain the necessary degree of monitoring and verification work,’ he added.

‘What we agreed is something that is viable – it is useful to bridge this gap that we are having now, it salvages the situation now,’ Grossi told reporters after landing back in Vienna. 

Under the temporary agreement Tehran will for ‘three months record and keep the information of some activities and monitoring equipment’, Iran’s Atomic Energy Organization (IAEO) said.

Joe Biden has signalled that he is open to doing a deal with Iran over its nuclear programme, but diplomats have requested more time to negotiate

Joe Biden has signalled that he is open to doing a deal with Iran over its nuclear programme, but diplomats have requested more time to negotiate

‘During this period, the IAEA will not have access to this information,’ the statement said, appearing to confirm comments from Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif that the law mandates the government to ‘not provide the tapes’ of cameras at sites to the IAEA.

‘If the sanctions are completely lifted within three months, Iran will provide this information to the IAEA, otherwise the information will be deleted forever,’ the statement added.

Zarif had signalled the Islamic republic wanted to avoid an ‘impasse’ over inspections, but also warned it could further step away from its commitments if Washington does not lift sanctions.

Grossi had said earlier his hope in visiting Tehran was ‘to stabilise a situation which was very unstable’.

‘I think this technical understanding does it so that other political discussions at other levels can take place, and most importantly we can avoid a situation in which we would have been, in practical terms, flying blind,’ he added.

Iran’s deputy foreign minister Abbas Araghchi acknowledged Saturday that his country’s inspection capability would be ‘reduced by about 20-30 percent’ when Tuesday’s law came into effect.

Grossi declined to give his own estimate of how much the IAEA’s inspection capability would be reduced but said the number of inspectors would not be scaled down, and that the agency would still be able to carry out some snap probes. 

Iran insists its nuclear programme is designed solely to produce energy, but Israel and western critics allege it will be used to make weapons (pictured, President Hassan Rouhani)

Iran insists its nuclear programme is designed solely to produce energy, but Israel and western critics allege it will be used to make weapons (pictured, President Hassan Rouhani)

Biden has committed to rejoining talks on Tehran’s nuclear programme in a shift from Trump’s policy of ‘maximum pressure’ towards the Islamic republic.

Tehran has repeatedly said it is ready to return to its nuclear commitments, on the condition Washington makes the first move by lifting the sanctions that have heaped economic pain on Iran.

But foreign minister Zarif warned that, if sanctions were not lifted, his nation would continue scaling back its commitments under the 2015 deal with the five UN Security Council permanent members and Germany.

The stockpile of ‘enriched uranium will increase’, he said, stressing that Tehran had the right within the agreement to stop observing commitments ‘totally or partially’ if the other parties fail to honour theirs.

‘We are still in the partial phase,’ Zarif said. ‘We can be total.’

The European Union’s political director Enrique Mora has proposed an ‘informal meeting’ involving Iran, with Washington accepting in principle.

Araghchi said Saturday that Tehran was reviewing the proposal, and discussing it with ‘friends and allies’ China and Russia.

Meanwhile Recep Tayyip Erdogan, president of neighbouring Turkey, said Sunday there was a ‘window of opportunity’ for the lifting of Iran sanctions, calling it ‘legal and logical’.