UK, France condemn 'threats' against nuclear watchdog
Britain, France and Germany have condemned what they describe as threats against the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency, and called on Iran to guarantee the safety of agency staff.
"France, Germany and the United Kingdom condemn threats against the Director General of the IAEA Rafael Grossi and reiterate our full support to the Agency and the DG in carrying out their mandate," said a joint statement issued by the foreign affairs ministries of those three countries.
"We call on Iranian authorities to refrain from any steps to cease co-operation with the IAEA. We urge Iran to immediately resume full co-operation in line with its legally binding obligations, and to take all necessary steps to ensure the safety and security of IAEA personnel," they added.
Their joint statement did not specify what threats had been made against Grossi.
On Monday, Iran said it could not be expected to guarantee the safety of IAEA inspectors, so swiftly after its nuclear sites were hit by Israeli and US strikes in the 12-day war that ended with a ceasefire last week.
"How can they expect us to ensure the safety and security of the agency's inspectors when Iran's peaceful nuclear facilities were attacked a few days ago?" Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei told a news conference.
The IAEA's board voted earlier in June to declare Iran was in violation of its obligations under the global nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. Iranian officials have suggested that vote helped pave the way for Israel's attacks.
Baghaei said a parliamentary bill approved by the Guardian Council makes it mandatory for the government to suspend co-operation with the UN nuclear watchdog.
"Iran shouldn't be expected to accept its obligations under the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) when the UN nuclear watchdog has stopped short of condemning the attacks on Iran's nuclear sites," Baghaei said.
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Limited flights out of eastern Iran are opening up, with the Department of Foreign Affairs contacting hundreds of registered travellers to alert them about seats as they become available. More than 3000 Australians wanting to leave Iran have registered with the department for assistance and family members in Australia are concerned that options to cross the border into Azerbaijan are unfeasible for vulnerable people. More than 50 Australians have successfully crossed the border and been met by Australian officials, while more than 150 have received border codes for Azerbaijan. A backlog of Australian requests for Azerbaijan border crossing codes was cleared after representations by Foreign Minister Penny Wong and consular officials. The department is advising Australians in Iran to leave now, if it's safe to do so, noting that although the ceasefire is holding for now, the situation remains volatile and can change quickly. The department's ability to provide consular assistance is extremely limited, given the environment in Iran is much more challenging than in Israel. Australia's embassy in Tehran has suspended operations and staff were recently evacuated. Travellers are urged to keep checking the Smartraveller website for updates. A ceasefire was reached after 12 days of war, which erupted on June 13 when Israel launched missile at Iranian military and nuclear sites. It came a day after the United Nations' nuclear watchdog declared Iran in breach of its non-proliferation obligations for the first time in almost 20 years. The assault triggered waves of retaliatory strikes between Iran and Israel, before the US intervened with a strike aimed at crippling Iran's nuclear program and forcing a truce between the two nations. Australian citizens are beginning to be flown out of Iran but escape options remain limited amid fears of more Israeli attacks. Five Australians have left Iran on a commercial flight from Mashhad, in the nation's north-east, for Dubai with Australian government assistance. In the week since the fragile truce between Israel and Iran began, airports in Iran's capital Tehran remain closed. Limited flights out of eastern Iran are opening up, with the Department of Foreign Affairs contacting hundreds of registered travellers to alert them about seats as they become available. More than 3000 Australians wanting to leave Iran have registered with the department for assistance and family members in Australia are concerned that options to cross the border into Azerbaijan are unfeasible for vulnerable people. More than 50 Australians have successfully crossed the border and been met by Australian officials, while more than 150 have received border codes for Azerbaijan. A backlog of Australian requests for Azerbaijan border crossing codes was cleared after representations by Foreign Minister Penny Wong and consular officials. The department is advising Australians in Iran to leave now, if it's safe to do so, noting that although the ceasefire is holding for now, the situation remains volatile and can change quickly. The department's ability to provide consular assistance is extremely limited, given the environment in Iran is much more challenging than in Israel. Australia's embassy in Tehran has suspended operations and staff were recently evacuated. Travellers are urged to keep checking the Smartraveller website for updates. A ceasefire was reached after 12 days of war, which erupted on June 13 when Israel launched missile at Iranian military and nuclear sites. It came a day after the United Nations' nuclear watchdog declared Iran in breach of its non-proliferation obligations for the first time in almost 20 years. The assault triggered waves of retaliatory strikes between Iran and Israel, before the US intervened with a strike aimed at crippling Iran's nuclear program and forcing a truce between the two nations.
