U.S. State Department spokesperson Ned Price urged Iran to reverse its decision to restrict inspections by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
In a press conference today, Price stated that Iran must reverse these steps and refrain from taking further actions that could affect the guarantees provided by the IAEA, which the entire world relies upon. The Iranian Foreign Ministry, on Monday, reiterated Tehran's intention to limit the implementation of the additional protocol regarding inspections of its nuclear sites starting February 21, emphasizing that this matter pertains only to additional inspections.
On another note, Iran announced today that IAEA Director Rafael Grossi will visit Tehran next Saturday for technical discussions with the Iranian Atomic Energy Organization regarding Tehran's intention to suspend its operations under the additional protocol of the nuclear agreement. Meanwhile, Iran informed the IAEA of its plans to install more advanced IR-2m centrifuges at its underground uranium enrichment facility in Natanz, which would further violate the nuclear agreement. The UN agency reported in an update to member states today, published by Reuters: "Iran hinted at plans to install two additional cascades of 174 IR-2m centrifuges at the fuel enrichment plant."
