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Report: Iran detained nuclear inspector, seized travel documents

Iran detained an inspector employed by the international nuclear watchdog, according to a Reuters report.

By JNS

Iran briefly held an inspector working for the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), seizing her travel documents, Reuters reported on Wednesday.

The incident, which reportedly occurred at the Natanz nuclear facility, is to be discussed at the IAEA Board of Governors meeting on Thursday.

According to diplomats who spoke to Reuters on condition of anonymity, the incident occurred at Iran’s enrichment site at Natanz last week and is to be taken up at a meeting of the IAEA’s 35-nation Board of Governors on Thursday, the report said.

Also on Wednesday, French President Emmanuel Macron called Iran’s recent announcement that it was reactivating its Fordow uranium enrichment facility “grave,” Reuters reported.

“I think that for the first time, Iran has decided in an explicit and blunt manner to leave the JCPOA [nuclear] agreement, which marks a profound shift,” said Macron.

In a further breach of the 2015 nuclear deal, Iran announced on Monday that it was doubling the number of advanced centrifuges it operates, according to the AP.

Tehran also claimed to have a prototype centrifuge that runs 50 times faster than those allowed under the agreement.