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Iran says Israeli attacks on nuclear sites must stop

Iran has suggested that the International Atomic Energy Agency's access to its nuclear facilities will resume once Israel's attacks on them stop.

JOE KLAMAR/AFP via Getty Images
The chief of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran Mohammad Eslami (R) and Iran's representative to the International Atomic Energy Agency Kazem Gharib Abadi attend the IAEA General Conference, an annual meeting of all the IAEA member states, at the agency's headquarters in Vienna, Austria, on Sept. 20, 2021. — JOE KLAMAR/AFP via Getty Images

In the ongoing battle with the United Nations' nuclear watchdog, Iran has told the International Atomic Energy Agency that it will allow access to its nuclear facilities once attacks targeting them stop.

According to Tasnim News Agency, Khazem Garibadadi, Iran’s representative to international organizations in Vienna, said, “If the agency wants to conduct inspections, it has to act on its own responsibilities and clearly condemn terrorists attacks against Iran’s technological centers.” He added, “If America and its Western allies want the continuation of the agency’s inspections, they have to stop the Zionist regime’s terrorist attacks.” 

Ghariabadi continued, “When a fake regime that is not a signatory to any nuclear pacts commits terroristic sabotage, why do we have to pay the price?”

Gharibabadi’s comments referred to sabotage at the Karaj nuclear facility widely believed to have been carried out by Israel. The June attack reportedly damaged cameras belonging to the IAEA that were storing data to be inspected at a later date under an agreement between Iran and the IAEA.

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