UN says Iran’s removal of monitoring cameras may scupper N-talks

By Our Special Correspondent

The UN Atomic Energy Watchdog said on Thursday that Iran was removing 27 surveillance cameras at its nuclear facilities, warning that it would be a "fatal blow" to talks to renew a landmark agreement.

Negotiations began in April last year to bring the United States into the 2015 agreement, lift sanctions and bring Iran back into compliance by restricting its nuclear activities. But talks have stalled since March and escalating tensions, with members of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) approving a resolution on Wednesday blaming Iran's lack of cooperation with the Watchdog.

Iran on Wednesday announced that it had disconnected some IAEA cameras monitoring its nuclear sites, denouncing the move as "constructive".

"We have information that 27 cameras are being removed in Iran," IAEA chief Rafael Grassi told reporters on Thursday."So this is a serious challenge to our ability to continue working there."

Gracie urged Iran to engage with him "immediately". He said if the issue was not resolved within three to four weeks, it would be a "fatal blow" to the talks. Grossi said about 40 monitoring cameras remained in the Islamic republic.