UPDATE, MAY 24:
After threatening further limits on inspections of its nuclear plants, Iran has agreed to a one-month extension with the International Atomic Energy Agency.
IAEA head Rafael Grossi confirmed the extension after talks with the head of Iran’s Atomic Energy Organization, Ali Akbar Salehi.
Video surveillance of Iran’s nuclear plants will continue, but Tehran will not give the IAEA access to the tapes.
Iran’s Ambassador to the IAEA, Kazem Gharibabadi, continued Tehran’s tactic of using the inspections as leverage in the nuclear talks in Vienna. He addressed the US and the powers in the 2015 deal (UK, France, Germany, China, and Russia), “I recommend that they use this opportunity, which has been provided in good faith by Iran, and lift all the sanctions in a practical and verifiable manner.”
ORIGINAL ENTRY, MAY 23: Iran has further limited inspections of its nuclear plants, ahead of the expiry of its agreement with the International Atomic Energy Agency.
Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf said Sunday that the inspectors may no longer review surveillance images of the nuclear sites.
In February, seeking leverage in any talks over its nuclear program, Iran withdrew from the Additional Protocol to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. Snap inspections were barred, and Tehran said it would withhold the surveillance videos for the next three months.
European countries stepped back from a showdown over the limits. Hopes then rose for an agreement in Vienna over the 2015 nuclear deal, covering US re-entry, lifting of American sanctions, and a return to Iranian compliance.
But Qalibaf, in comments on State TV, told MPs, “Based on the expiration of the three-month deadline, definitely the International Atomic Energy Agency will not have the right to access images from May 22.”
He declared that the Supreme Leader supported the rebuff to the IAEA.
Some MPs went farther, calling for the permanent deletion of the surveillance images.
IAEA head Rafael Grossi, seeking an extension of the agreement with the Islamic Republic, will brief reporters on Sunday afternoon in Vienna.
Dehghan drops out of the presidential race: https://www.presstv.com/Detail/2021/05/24/657383/Iran-presidential-election-Hossein-Dehqan-Raeisi
Guardians council to announce results of who is qualified to run: http://www.didbaniran.ir/%D8%A8%D8%AE%D8%B4-%D8%B3%DB%8C%D8%A7%D8%B3%DB%8C-3/108411-%D8%A7%D9%82%D8%A7%D9%85%D8%AA-%D9%81%D8%B1%D8%B2%D9%86%D8%AF-%D8%B9%D9%84%DB%8C-%D9%84%D8%A7%D8%B1%DB%8C%D8%AC%D8%A7%D9%86%DB%8C-%D8%AF%D8%B1-%D8%A2%D9%85%D8%B1%DB%8C%DA%A9%D8%A7-%D8%B3%D9%84%D8%A7%D9%85%D8%AA-%D9%85%D8%AD%D8%B3%D9%86-%D8%B1%D8%B6%D8%A7%DB%8C%DB%8C-%D8%A8%D8%A7%D8%B9%D8%AB-%D8%AA%D8%A7%D8%AE%DB%8C%D8%B1-%D8%A7%D8%B9%D9%84%D8%A7%D9%85-%D9%86%D8%AA%D8%A7%DB%8C%D8%AC-%D8%B5%D9%84%D8%A7%D8%AD%DB%8C%D8%AA-%D9%87%D8%A7-%D8%AA%D9%88%D8%B3%D8%B7-%D8%B4%D9%88%D8%B1%D8%A7%DB%8C-%D9%86%DA%AF%D9%87%D8%A8%D8%A7%D9%86-%D8%B4%D8%AF
The Guardians Council may not qualify Ali Larijani on the grounds his daughter lives and works in the United States and, therefore poses a security risk. They also are concerned about the health of Mohsen Rezai.