Iran Expels More Nuclear Inspectors From UN After US Released $6 Billion in Frozen Iranian Funds

Contributing sentiments towards policy:

58% : They have conducted essential verification work at the enrichment facilities in Iran which are under Agency safeguards," he said.
54% : Rafael Mariano Grossi, the director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) -- a U.N. nuclear watchdog that promotes the safe and peaceful use of nuclear technologies -- said in a statement on Sept. 16 that Iran had informed him of its "decision to withdraw the designation of several experienced Agency inspectors assigned to conduct verification activities in Iran under the NPT Safeguards Agreement," referring to the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons Treaty.
51% : Western nations have long suspected that Iran's nuclear program is aimed at eventually developing a nuclear weapon, but Iran insists the program is peaceful.
50% : "Mr. Grossi urged Iran to reconsider its actions.
47% : "I strongly condemn this disproportionate and unprecedented unilateral measure which affects the normal planning and conduct of Agency verification activities in Iran and openly contradicts the cooperation that should exist between the Agency and Iran.
46% : Tehran informed a U.N. nuclear watchdog it has expelled more inspectors from monitoring its disputed atomic program.
46% : "With today's decision, Iran has effectively removed about one third of the core group of the Agency's most experienced inspectors designated for Iran."Even though the NPT rules allow Iran's action, it makes it harder for the IAEA to check on Iran's nuclear activities and ensure that such nuclear activities are for peaceful purposes, Mr. Grossi noted.
45% : The move cleared the way for the release of five U.S. citizens detained in Iran, as well as the release of five Iranian citizens held in the United States.
44% : The treaty commits them not to transfer nuclear weapons, while non-nuclear states promise not to acquire them.
42% : "I also call upon the highest authorities of Iran to engage with me at the earliest opportunity to correct course and work with the Agency for the complete clarification of the outstanding safeguards issues," he added.
40% : Britain, France, and Germany also said on Sept. 14 that they would maintain sanctions on Iran related to its nuclear and ballistic missile programs.
38% : Mr. Grossi said Iran's removal of more nuclear inspectors from the U.N. comes after the recent removal of "another experienced Agency inspector for Iran.
37% : The IAEA, the West, and other countries say Iran had a secret military nuclear program it abandoned in 2003.
36% : "The IAEA Director General said Iran's removal of key inspectors is harming the agency's oversight capabilities and straining "the cooperation that should exist between the Agency and Iran.
33% : "Mr. Cruz also criticized the Biden administration's lack of action over recent years, saying that this has enabled Iran to come closer to advancing its nuclear capabilities.
27% : Iran has moved to expel nuclear inspectors from the United Nations just days after the Biden administration authorized the transfer of $6 billion in frozen Iranian funds as part of a prisoner swap deal.
26% : At the time of withdrawing from the deal, President Trump said the JCPOA didn't do enough to deter Iran from building a nuclear weapon and that it also failed to address other concerns the United States had with the Islamic regime, such as its ballistic missile development, support for terrorist groups and militias, threatening maritime shipping routes, and more.
12% : The United States, Britain, France, and Germany criticized Iran in a joint statement at an IAEA board meeting in Vienna this week, calling on Iran to step up cooperation with the agency.

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