Iran says US and Israeli strikes to blame for partial loss of nuclear oversight

Iran's deputy foreign minister said US and Israeli strikes on Iranian nuclear sites have prevented the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) from being able to monitor them fully.

Kazem Gharibabadi said the UN's nuclear watchdog should avoid turning technical reports into “tools of political pressure” if it wanted to contribute to a diplomatic solution.

He said that the loss of the IAEA's oversight at some facilities resulted from the attacks rather than a lack of cooperation by Iran, adding that the agency was using the consequences of US and Israeli strikes on Iranian nuclear sites to create “ambiguity” about Tehran's nuclear programme.