Iran turns off IAEA surveillance cameras

TEHERAN－The Atomic Energy Organization of Iran, or AEOI, announced on Wednesday that it has turned off two surveillance cameras of the International Atomic Energy Agency, or IAEA.

The AEOI said it has decided to shut off the IAEA's surveillance cameras for the online enrichment monitor, or OLEM, and the flow meter as of Wednesday, according to state-run IRIB TV.

The statement said the AEOI's remedial measures are implemented in reaction to the IAEA's "illegal behaviors".

Iran has been cooperating extensively with the IAEA so far, but "unfortunately the agency has not appreciated Teheran's collaborations, it has, instead, deemed the cooperation to be Iran's duty".

The AEOI added that over 80 percent of the IAEA's existing cameras are operating under the Safeguards Agreement, which will remain in place and keep functioning as in the past.

However, one day after Iran's statement, the head of the IAEA said on Thursday that Iran is removing 27 cameras from nuclear sites in the country.

Rafael Mariano Grossi made the comments at a suddenly-called news conference in Vienna. Iran did not immediately acknowledge it.

'Illegal behaviors'

In an exclusive report on Wednesday, Iran's Nour News reported that Teheran has placed a number of remedial measures on the agenda in reaction to the IAEA's "illegal behaviors" and "political reports".

Iran's move came just before the IAEA's board of governors approved a resolution put forward by Western nations.

A Chinese envoy said on Wednesday during the meeting that putting pressure on Iran would not help solve the Iran nuclear issue.

Wang Chang, deputy head of China's Permanent Mission to the United Nations in Vienna, said China voted against the resolution, which was proposed by the United States, Britain, France and Germany to criticize Iran for its nuclear safeguards issues, at the meeting of the IAEA board of governors earlier in the day.

Wang said China is opposed to relevant countries putting pressure on Iran with the resolution, as the pressure campaign will not help solve problems, but intensify tensions and escalate the situation.

Such a confrontational move at the IAEA board meeting will only compromise the Iran-IAEA cooperation and undermine negotiations on reviving the 2015 Iran nuclear deal, which is in the final critical stage, he noted.

Talks in Vienna over restoring the Iran nuclear deal, formally known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, have stalled in recent months.

The Chinese envoy said China supports the IAEA and Iran in resolving their disagreements on safeguards issues through dialogue and cooperation.

"The pressing task now is to conclude the Iran nuclear talks and bring the JCPOA back on track at an early date," Wang said.

"All relevant parties should create necessary conditions and a sound atmosphere for diplomatic efforts," he added.

Xinhua - Agencies