The US Secretary of State accused Iran of insulting UN nuclear surveillance personnel and asking Tehran to cooperate with inspectors.

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said on November 8 that Iran's treatment of a female inspector of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) last week was "an insulting, unjustifiable bullying". .

The statement was made by Pompeo after Iran said on Saturday it canceled the license of an IAEA female inspector after she triggered the alarm bell at the entrance to the Natanz uranium enrichment plant on October 28. Aroused concern this person brought "suspicious items".

Iranian ambassador to the IAEA Kazem Gharib Abadi said the woman then "sneaked" into the toilet while waiting for a more thorough inspection with an explosive detector. After she returned, the alarm did not sound. Authorities later discovered that the toilet was dirty and her empty bag.

IAEA said after the incident, the female inspector was prevented from leaving Iran for a short time.

"The United States fully supports IAEA surveillance and verification activities in Iran and we are very worried about Iran's lack of full cooperation," Pompeo said in a statement. "IAEA inspectors must be allowed to carry out their important work unimpeded. We urge Iran to immediately resolve all issues with the IAEA and allow inspectors of the agency to receive special privileges." rights and immunities ".

Tensions between the US and Iran increased after US President Donald Trump withdrew the United States from the Comprehensive Joint Plan of Action (JCPOA - the full name of the 2015 Iran nuclear deal), and imposed export sanctions. oil and isolate the Iranian economy. Iran announced it would gradually withdraw from the commitments in the agreement after the US move.

Iran in July announced an increase in uranium enrichment to 5%, exceeding the 3.67% threshold specified in the JCPOA. On November 6, Iran began pumping uranium gas into 1,044 centrifuges at the underground Fordow nuclear facility to restore uranium enrichment, marking Iran's fourth step in reducing its commitment to JPOA.