Iran says IAEA inspections will not resume if US threats continue

Iran stated that talks with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) on restarting nuclear inspections cannot be conducted until the United States' military strike threats come to an end. According to a report by the Associated Press (AP) based on a confidential report circulated to IAEA member states, Iran said in its notification to the Agency that the necessary conditions for restarting the inspection process have not yet been established.

The Tehran government directly cited President Donald Trump's statements about military strikes that could target Iran's nuclear facilities as its justification. Arguing that these statements have eliminated the environment of trust, Iran also reiterated its determination to fully implement its nuclear obligations once conditions become suitable.

Iran also conveyed to the IAEA its discomfort over the United States offering rewards of up to 20 million dollars to those who provide information about the nuclear program. Tehran argued that this initiative could undermine the agency's confidentiality principles.

The IAEA, for its part, stated that the lack of sufficient information about nuclear facilities and materials in Iran constitutes a "serious problem" and that this gap is "worrying" with respect to preventing the proliferation of nuclear weapons. The Agency, noting that it is ready to restart the inspections as soon as possible, called on Tehran to consider technical arrangements.

Iran's stance indicates that nuclear diplomacy between Tehran and Washington will take shape in the period ahead depending on the United States' military rhetoric.