Military site inspections must be part of Iran deal: IAEA
29 May 2015 4:37 AM IST
The question of inspections is shaping up to be one of the thorniest issues as world powers try to finalise a deal by June 30 to prevent Iran from developing a nuclear bomb.
Amano said Tehran has agreed to <g data-gr-id="31">implementing</g> the Additional Protocol of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) that allows for snap inspections of its nuclear facilities, and if required, military sites. However, differences have emerged over the interpretation of the protocol and the issue is far from resolved.
Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei last week ruled out allowing nuclear inspectors to visit military sites or the questioning of scientists.
And Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif has said the protocol allows “some access” but not inspections of military sites, in order to protect national “military or economic secrets”.
In an interview with AFP and French daily Le Monde, Amano said that if a deal is reached, Iran will face the same inspections from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) as any of the 120 countries implementing the additional protocol. “When we find inconsistency or when we have doubts we can request access to the undeclared location for example, and this could include military sites,” said the Japanese diplomat.
“Some consideration is needed because of the sensitiveness of the site, but the IAEA has the right to request access at all locations, including military ones.”
Iran and the so-called P5+1 group -- Britain, China, France, Russia, the United States plus Germany -- have been engaged for nearly two years in negotiations on Tehran’s nuclear drive.
The deal is aimed at preventing Iran from developing the atomic bomb in exchange for an easing of crippling economic sanctions.
The two sides signed a framework agreement on April 2 and began meeting in Vienna on Wednesday to start finalising a deal which is due by June 30.
France too opposes Iran nuclear deal without military site checks
French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius said on Wednesday that France would oppose a nuclear deal with Iran if it did not allow inspections of military sites. An agreement “will not be accepted by France if it is not clear that verifications can be made at all Iranian facilities, including military sites,” Fabius told parliament.
Nuke talks could go beyond June 30 deadline, says Iran
Talks between Iran and world powers aimed at finalising a deal over Tehran’s nuclear programme could go beyond a June 30 deadline, a senior Iranian negotiator said on Wednesday.
“We are not at the point where we can say that negotiations will be completed quickly -- they will continue until the deadline and could continue beyond that,” Abbas Araghchi was quoted as saying by the official IRNA news agency.
Araghchi has been attending a fresh round of talks between Iranian representatives and officials from the P5+1 group -- Britain, China, France, Russia, the United States plus Germany -- which got under way in Vienna on Tuesday.
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