Iran says cancelled accreditation of UN nuclear inspector

Dunya News

Iran says cancelled accreditation of UN nuclear inspector

TEHRAN (AFP) - Iran said Thursday it had cancelled the accreditation of a UN nuclear inspector after she triggered an alarm last week at the entrance to the Natanz uranium enrichment plant.

The check at the entrance gate to the plant in central Iran had "triggered an alarm" raising concern that she could be carrying a "suspect product" on her, the Iranian Atomic Energy Organisation said in a statement posted online.

As a result, she was denied entry, it added, without specifying whether or not anything had been found in her possession.

The Iranian organisation said it had reported the incident to International Atomic Energy Agency and notified it that its inspector’s accreditation had been withdrawn.

She had since left Iran for Vienna, where the IAEA is based, it said, without saying when.

"Iran’s representative to the IAEA will present a full report on the matter" in Vienna later Thursday, it added.

According to a source close to the IAEA, the 35 members of its council of governors will hold a special meeting dedicated to Iran.

Under a landmark 2015 deal between Iran and major powers, its nuclear facilities are subject to continuous monitoring by the IAEA.