29-04-2024 12:58 AM Jerusalem Timing

Diplomats Downplay Chief Inspector’s Comment on Good Iran Visit

Diplomats Downplay Chief Inspector’s Comment on Good Iran Visit

After Iran’s visit was announced to be good, some diplomats seemed to be infuriated by the “good” expression and tried to deviate from any positive point for Tehran

After Iran’s visit was announced to be good, some diplomats seemed to be infuriated by the “good” expression and tried to deviate from any positive point for Tehran.

“International Atomic Energy Agency chief inspector Herman Nackaerts' comment at Vienna airport on Wednesday that he had a good trip was off the cuff and not meant to be a substantive comment,” AFP quoted one diplomat as saying.

“There is no indication that Iran offered substantive cooperation in terms of answering the IAEA's questions,” said another envoy. “Iran seemed focused on modalities rather than substance.”
  
During their three-day visit from Sunday to Tuesday, the six-member IAEA team held talks with Iranian officials, but “not all” those whom they had wanted to meet, the first diplomat was cited as saying.
  
In addition, they did not visit any sites mentioned in a November report in which the IAEA said it suspected Iran "has carried out activities relevant to the development of a nuclear device".
  
Iranian Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi's comments to the Fars state news agency that Tehran “was ready to facilitate such visits if they had wanted to” was also disputed by diplomats to the Vienna-based IAEA.
  
The Iranians "quite cleverly stonewalled for three days," one said.