Documents seized by Iran suggest IAEA ‘Instrument for Israel’ – Report
Iranian media says the documents show that Tehran’s confidential letters to the IAEA were passed on to Israel
The thousands of sensitive documents on Israel’s nuclear program, which Tehran said its intelligence managed to obtain, reveal direct cooperation between Tel Aviv and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) against Iran, according to an Iranian media report.
“These documents clearly show that instead of playing a neutral role, the IAEA has become an instrument serving the objectives of the Zionist regime,” Fars news agency cited an informed source as saying on 10 June.
The documents prove that “Iran’s official and confidential letters to the IAEA – containing sensitive information – were channeled to the espionage agencies of the Zionist regime through covert conduits,” the report added.
The report also notes that several top Iranian nuclear scientists ended up getting assassinated due to their names being disclosed by the IAEA.
The chief of the UN nuclear watchdog Rafael Grossi said on Monday that “We have seen some reports in the press. We haven’t had any official communication about this.”
“In any case, this seems to refer to Soreq, which is [an Israeli nuclear] research facility which we inspect by the way. We don’t inspect other strategic parts of the program, but this part of the program we do inspect,” he added.
This was the first outside confirmation of Iran’s claim that it seized a vast amount of sensitive Israeli nuclear documents.
READ ALSO: Thousands join Tunisian-led ‘Sumud Convoy’ to demand end to Israeli blockade on Gaza
Soreq is an Israeli nuclear research facility south of Tel Aviv that was established in 1958.
Under Israel’s agreement with the watchdog, the IAEA monitors Soreq but has zero access to the Israeli nuclear facility at Dimona, which is believed to provide fuel for Tel Aviv’s undeclared nuclear weapons program.
According to a confidential IAEA report on Iran seen by Reuters, the watchdog has “conclusive evidence of highly confidential documents belonging to the Agency having been actively collected and analyzed by Iran.”
“Here, unfortunately, and this dates to a few years ago … we could determine with all clarity that documents that belong to the agency were in the hands of Iranian authorities, which is bad. We believe that an action like this is not compatible with the spirit of cooperation,” Grossi said at a press conference on 10 June.
When asked if these were originally Iranian documents seized by Israel and handed over to the IAEA, Grossi said, “No. We received documents from member states, and also, we have our own assessments on documents, on equipment, etc.”
READ ALSO: Iran threatens to target US bases if nuclear negotiations fail
The Iranian intelligence operation was initially announced in Iranian media on Saturday.
Sources told state broadcaster IRIB that “The sheer volume of the materials and the need to securely transfer the entire shipment into the country necessitated a period of media silence,” adding that the documents have reached “secure locations.”
IRIB said the brief marked a significant setback for Israel.
“The transfer of this treasure trove was time-consuming and required security measures. Naturally, the transfer methods will remain confidential, but the documents should be unveiled soon,” the Islamic Republic’s Intelligence Minister Esmail Khatib told Iranian television on 8 June.
“Talking of thousands of documents would be an understatement,” Khatib went on to say. The “vast collection of strategic and sensitive [Israeli] documents” includes “plans and data on [Israel’s] nuclear facilities,” according to the intelligence minister.
“They also include other documents about the relationship with the US, Europe, and other countries, as well as intelligence documents that would boost Iran’s offense power,” Khatib added.
The chief of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), Hossein Salami, said the intel will provide Iran with an advantage in any missile attack on Israel.
Reports say Israel is planning an attack on Iranian nuclear facilities, which Tehran says it will respond to forcefully.
The Intelligence Ministry announcement comes amid tensions in recent nuclear talks between Tehran and Washington. Iran has rejected a new US proposal that would significantly constrain its ability to enrich uranium, and has said it will soon put forward a counteroffer.
It also comes as the IAEA board is preparing to pass a resolution against Iran, citing a comprehensive report accusing Tehran of failing to comply with the 2015 nuclear agreement scrapped by US President Donald Trump.
The move could result in a reimposition of European sanctions on the Islamic Republic.
“Certainly, the IAEA should not expect the Islamic Republic of Iran to continue its broad and friendly cooperation,” Behrouz Kamalvandi, spokesman for the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI), said when asked how Iran would respond.
Follow the Neptune Prime channel on WhatsApp:
Do you have breaking news, interview request, opinion, suggestion, or want your event covered? Email us at neptuneprime2233@gmail.com