Iran says 'no obligation' to grant UN nuclear watchdog access to nuclear sites

After United Nation's nuclear watchdog was denied access to Iranian nuclear sites, Iran's UN ambassor, Gharib Abi has said on March 4 in Vienna that it has “ obligation” to grant access. He said that requests are based on “fabricated information” while mentioning warnings raised by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu who indicated towards “secret atomic warehouse”. Abi's statement came a day after a report from International Atomic Energy ncy (IAEA) in which it reprimanded Iran for denying access to two sites which certain diplomats reportedly believe has a connection to Iran's historic nuclear activity. 

"Intelligence services'' fabricated information... creates obligation for Iran to consider such requests," said a statement from Iran''s ambassor to UN in Vienna Kazem Gharib Abi. 

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According to reports, Gharib Abi also accused United States and Israel of trying to “exert pressure” on IAEA in order to distort active and positive cooperation between ncy and Iran. Meanwhile, Israel has also claimed that trail of information obtained by its intelligence services has new information on a previous nuclear weapons programme in Iran.

Moreover, two sites which Iranian government denied IAEA's access to were among three locations that ncy h been raising questions over since last summer. In second report issued on March 3, IAEA reported Iran was continuing to breach terms of nuclear accord of 2015 signed with world powers but did t report any restrictions in access to nuclear facilities. 

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Seeking access to 'atomic archive'

IAEA is seeking access to sites which has been referred by Israel as “atomic archive” of information on Iran’s nuclear program. In vember 2019, Iran’s nuclear program he Ali Akbar Salehi declared that Tehran h been producing more low-enriched uranium on a daily basis after it restarted an underground lab in Fordow.

Salehi, who hes Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI), h said that Iran was producing at least 5.5 kilograms of low-enriched uranium, which is almost 12 times what country h been producing before underground lab started. Iran h claimed that its nuclear program was for peaceful purposes as it has been facing severe sanctions on ecomic front after US President Donald Trump pulled out of JCPoA.

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(With PTI inputs)