IAEA denies accusations of storing weapons in Ukraine
The President of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Grossi, briefed the members of the Foreign Relations Committee of the European Parliament (EP) about the Zaporizhia nuclear facility in Ukraine and the latest situation in the nuclear negotiations with Iran.
When asked for his assessment of Russia’s claims that Ukraine is stockpiling weapons at nuclear facilities, Grossi said:
“I gave instructions to our teams this morning. I asked them to assess these facilities in cooperation with the Ukrainian administrations and to determine if there is any military equipment at the facilities. The results of these inspections were negative.
Giving information about the Zaporozhye nuclear facility, which was under Russian control during the war in Ukraine, Grossi stressed that the situation around the facility is very dangerous due to conflicts.
After recalling that he proposed the creation of a safe zone for this reason, Grossi said that the only institution that would prevent a nuclear accident in Zaporizhia is the IAEA, and that he wanted the political support of the EP in this regard.
Grossi noted that he recently held talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy about preventing nuclear accidents in the region, and that he will travel to Russia in the coming days.
“IRAN HOLLOW SHELL NUCLEAR DEAL”
Providing information on the latest situation regarding the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (KOEP), known as the Iran nuclear deal, Grossi said the deal was not considered “dead” by anyone, but “empty.”
Speaking about the KOEP signed in 2015 between Iran and the permanent members of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), the US, Russia, China, England and France, and Germany (5+1), Grossi used the following statements:
“No one declared that KOEP is dead, but KOEP is now an empty shell. The obligations of the agreement are not fulfilled. All limits at KOEP have been violated many times. There is nearly 60 percent uranium enriched for nuclear weapons.”
Emphasizing that the overall situation regarding the deal is not promising, Grossi stated that they have not been able to receive information from Iran about its nuclear activities for about a year.
Grossi stated that Iran does not yet have nuclear weapons and that this is a difficult and long process, adding: “I am not saying that it is impossible. I am not saying that we relax or believe that nothing will happen. But the situation is not good at all.” he performed the assessment of it.
Responding to a lawmaker who asked if the deal was dead, Grossi said: “Dead or not, it’s hard to say, but it’s in pretty bad shape.” saying.
When asked if Russia was helping Iran develop nuclear weapons, Grossi replied:
“Actually, it might even be provocative for me to say these things in this parliament these days, but when it comes to KOEP, Russia really wanted agreement and progress. Personally, I am not aware of Russia helping Iran to obtain a nuclear bomb.” (AA)