IAEA inspector case possible US move to stir Iran tensions: Analyst

The recent incident involving an inspector of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), who reportedly tried to smuggle suspicious material into Iran’s nuclear facilities, is most likely an attempt by the United States to stir more tensions in relation to the Islamic Republic’s peaceful nuclear program, says an American political analyst.

Myles Hoenig, a political analyst in Baltimore, made the remarks after Iran revealed Thursday that a detector for explosive nitrates went off at the Natanz uranium enrichment plant when the inspector attempted to enter the facility on October 28.

Kazem Gharibabadi, Iran’s envoy to the agency, noted that the woman "sneaked out" to the bathroom while officials looked for a female employee to search her.

After her return, he added, the alarms did not go off again, but authorities found contamination in the bathroom and later on her empty handbag during a house search.

The Iranian official also expressed hope that further tests by Iran and the IAEA would explain what happened.

The incident drew the ire of the United States, with Secretary of State Mike Pompeo claiming that the inspector had been "detained" in an "outrageous and unwarranted act of intimidation."

"IAEA inspectors must be allowed to conduct their critical work unimpeded," he said in a statement on Friday. "We call on Iran to immediately resolve all open issues with the IAEA and to afford Agency inspectors the privileges and immunities to which they are entitled."

Hoenig said Washington could be behind the plot because the administration of US President Donald Trump has been actively seeking to disrupt Iran’s nuclear program by making “false claims” about its peaceful nature.

“It is likely at the behest of the US, as the Trump administration alone has opposed any reconciliations with Iran or attempts to ratchet down the tensions between the two countries,” he told PressTV on Sunday.

He noted that by pulling out of the 2015 Iran nuclear deal last year, Trump has been trying to “force Iran’s hand” and convince Iranian officials to quit the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).

Hoenig said Iranian officials have long opposed the idea of developing weapons of mass destruction but Washington wants Tehran to give up its entire nuclear program which is an “invitation” for regime change.

“One only has to look at other countries who have given up their programs or demilitarized at the US’s demand to know that that would be an invitation for regime change by the US and total destruction,” he argued.

PressTV-US irate as Iran bars IAEA expert over explosive traces

The US has reacted with fury to Iran's blocking of an International Atomic Energy Agency inspector who tested positive for suspected traces of explosive nitrates.

The analyst pointed out Washington’s double standard approach by comparing its current behavior with the way it once planned to arms the regime of Shah prior to the 1979 Islamic Revolution in Iran.

“What makes this case different is that the US helped Iran go nuclear under the Shah and is making the false claims that it is enriching uranium to be weapons grade,” he added.

“As the US pulled out of the Iran deal, the Trump administration showed how unwilling it is to engage in peaceful resolutions to tense situations. That is the usual approach to US foreign policy but in this case the present foreign policy establishment is at odds with itself,” Hoenig further argued.

“The US is not a country to be trusted in international agreements,” he said, adding that countries should follow their own interests as they stand no chance to benefit from entering deals with Washington.

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