Iran said to agree to allow new UN cameras at nuclear site

Iran will allow the United Nations’ nuclear watchdog to reinstall cameras damaged at a site where it has centrifuge parts and manufacturing material, according to semiofficial Iranian news agencies.

The decision will see cameras put back at Karaj, which came under what Iran describes as a sabotage attack in June. Iran since had refused the International Atomic Energy Agency access to replace cameras damaged in the incident. Tehran blamed the Karaj assault on Israel.

The Vienna-based IAEA did not immediately respond to queries from The Associated Press regarding the reports by the semiofficial ISNA and Tasnim news agencies. The reports say that Iran will keep all recordings from the cameras, however, part of another ongoing dispute between the agency and Tehran.

The reports come after Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian reportedly said earlier today that Iran had “reached a good agreement” with the IAEA.

In an interview yesterday with the AP, IAEA Director-General Rafael Mariano Grossi warned that limited access to Karaj hurt international efforts to monitor Iran’s program.

Negotiations continue in Vienna over trying to restore the nuclear deal. However, Iran under hardline President Ebrahim Raisi has taken a maximalist position in negotiations.