Iran's refusal to let in U.N. nuclear inspectors is serious matter - IAEA's Grossi

Record ID: 1463061

  • Title: Iran's refusal to let in U.N. nuclear inspectors is serious matter - IAEA's Grossi
  • Date: 9th March 2020
  • Summary: VIENNA, AUSTRIA (MARCH 9, 2020) (REUTERS) IAEA DIRECTOR GENERAL RAFAEL GROSSI AT NEWS CONFERENCE CAMERA CREWS (SOUNDBITE) (English) IAEA DIRECTOR GENERAL, RAFAEL GROSSI, SAYING: "What we need is access, this is what we need. And we need a technical conversation, more than anything else." REPORTERS SEATED (SOUNDBITE) (English) IAEA DIRECTOR GENERAL, RAFAEL GROSSI, SAYING: "We never had a thing like this before. And forget for a second, even if it's difficult, forget about Iran. I would invite you all to forget about Iran. If I get a denial under additional protocol for complementary access, this is a serious matter. It's not something that I can put on the shelf and continue." REPORTERS SEATED NEWS CONFERENCE IN PROGRESS (SOUNDBITE) (English) IAEA DIRECTOR GENERAL, RAFAEL GROSSI, SAYING: "I want to be clear on that what we are requesting is within the competencies of the agency so there is no interpretation here. Of course we can talk, we can discuss and I am very open to that. But it's a straightforward request within the competencies of the agency, within the strict terms of the additional protocol so we hope, I really hope that Iran will revisit its position so far and will give us access very soon." REPORTERS SEATED NEWS CONFERENCE IN PROGRESS (SOUNDBITE) (English) IAEA DIRECTOR GENERAL, RAFAEL GROSSI, SAYING: "Now I receive a formal denial. It's not a 'maybe, let's talk.' It's no. So when I get a no I say 'I need the access." REPORTER WEARING MASK SEATED IN AUDIENCE (SOUNDBITE) (English) IAEA DIRECTOR GENERAL, RAFAEL GROSSI, SAYING: "Well, I'm a diplomat and I never give up." NEWS CONFERENCE IN PROGRESS GROSSI LEAVING
  • Embargoed: 23rd March 2020 14:55
  • Keywords: access director general rafael grossi iaea inspectors iran
  • Location: VIENNA, AUSTRIA
  • City: VIENNA, AUSTRIA
  • Country: Austria
  • Topics: Government/Politics,United Nations
  • Reuters ID: LVA001C4BYGQV
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: Iran's refusal to allow U.N. nuclear inspectors access to sites where they have questions about past activities is a "serious matter" and a first, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said in Vienna on Monday (March 9).
    IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi, whose agency is policing Iran's troubled nuclear deal with major powers, told reporters "what we need is access" which he said was "within the competencies of the agency so there is no interpretation here."
    The IAEA sounded an alarm last week over a lack of Iranian cooperation in clearing up what the IAEA suspects are undeclared activities and materials dating back to the early 2000s. Iran has denied it access to two sites.
    Grossi, who assumed office on December 3, 2019, said he was a diplomat and that "I never give up."
    (Production: Ayhan Uyanik, Michele Sani)
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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