TEHRAN: Iran has told the Vienna-based International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) that it will remove 27 monitoring cameras from its nuclear sites.

According to reports, IAEA Director-General Rafael Grossi told reporters late Thursday that the action might "give a death blow" to the hopes of restoring the 2015 Iran nuclear deal and "poses a severe challenge to our capacity to continue working there."

Iran's move came a day after the International Atomic Energy Agency's board of governors voted to sanction Iran for its nuclear safety violations. Following recent IAEA findings that Iran has not provided "technically credible explanations" for uranium particles at three undeclared locations, the US, UK, France, and Germany proposed the resolution. Iranian officials, on the other hand, dismissed the accusations, claiming that the government did not engage in any clandestine or unreported nuclear activity.

According to Grossi, more than 40 surveillance cameras in Iran will stay operational following the country's recent step. He cautioned that if an agreement on reinstalling the cameras cannot be reached in three to four weeks, "this will be a devastating blow" to chances of resurrecting the Iran nuclear deal, technically known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).

N.Korea sets for party meet amid reports of possible nuclear test

S.Korea, US, Japan hold high-level talks on global issues

Iran calls for IAEA to avoid 'politicising' nuclear programme