What happens when Iran thinks a nuclear inspector might be on to something? It gets him fired.

Upon Tehran’s insistence, International Atomic Energy Agency (iaea) chief Mohammed ElBaradei has removed the chief inspector of Iran’s nuclear program, Chris Charlier. Until April, when Iran felt it had been inspected enough, Charlier had led a team of 15 inspectors who had been monitoring Iran’s nuclear program since 2003.

And what was Iran’s beef with Charlier? It was simply displeased with his work—work which led him to state publicly that Iran is running a clandestine nuclear program and suggesting it is linked to weapons. Presumably, he was just doing his job too well.

The Belgian newspaper De Standaard put it this way: “The Belgian inspector and his team regularly managed to uncover factual information which was very inconvenient for the version which Iran is trying to present to the outside world” (July 10). Iran’s demand “can be viewed as an indirect acknowledgment that inspector X or Y is rather too diligent and too expert for a country’s liking.”

On the reasons for iaea chief ElBaradei’s caving in to the Iranian demand, De Standaard stated: “But, with a rarely seen clarity, Charlier says that ElBaradei gave in without reason to Iran and is jeopardizing the iaea’s work in Iran.” Some light may be shed on the situation when one considers that ElBaradei is an Egyptian who, for instance, has previously coached Iran on the complexities of the nuclear non-proliferation treaty.

“Welt am Sonntag cites anonymous colleagues of Charlier. He has paid the price for his refusal to close the Iranian nuclear dossier and exonerate Iran. ‘This is the declaration of bankruptcy of our work. ElBaradei is giving in to the mullahs and is leaving us in the lurch’” (ibid.). The source went on to make the point that the Iranian nuclear program may as well be overseen directly by Tehran itself—such is the impotency of the inspection program.

As if further evidence was needed, the removal of the chief nuclear investigator upon Tehran’s request only confirms what a complete farce the iaea inspections have been—inspections conducted entirely on Iran’s terms. Moreover, it highlights the appalling ineffectiveness of the United Nations and its various instruments.

It must also be an encouragement to Iran to be further reassured how easily it can push around the international community.