Iran Says IAEA Inspected Bushehr Nuclear Facility in Recent Days

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei said on November 9 that the International Atomic Energy Agency had inspected the Bushehr nuclear facility several days earlier. Speaking at his Monday press conference, he said Iran's mission in Vienna remained in continuous professional contact with the agency. Baghaei maintained that Iran had not suspended its obligations, remained a member of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and continued to be bound by its safeguards agreement. The spokesman blamed U.S. and Israeli attacks on Iranian nuclear facilities for difficulties implementing safeguards. He argued that cooperation could not proceed as it would under normal conditions while that situation persisted, and criticized the response of the IAEA's Board of Governors and director general to the attacks. In a March 4 announcement, the Israel Defense Forces said Iran had concealed attempts to rebuild nuclear facilities beneath piles of earth since Operation Rising Lion.