Iran Denies IAEA Access to Parchin

Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI) last week reportedly denied IAEA inspectors access to Parchin military base outside Tehran.

The IAEA delegation had traveled to Iran “a few days earlier within the framework of cooperation between Iran and the UN nuclear watchdog.” (Fars News Agency, 3 May)

Fars, referring to a statement made by AEOI spokesman Behrouz Kamalvandi in February, implied the IAEA team was not allowed to visit Parchin.

“(IAEA inspectors) are not legally entitled to visit Parchin since (Iran) has not accepted and is not exercising the Additional Protocol (to the NPT),” Fars said today.

IAEA has always maintained that there are strong indicators of possible previous work related to nuclear weapons development taking place at Parchin military base. And IAEA inspectors have to report back to the nuclear watchdog agency of the existence, currently or in the past, of any possible military dimension to Iranian nuclear program.

Meanwhile, thousands of people gathered today at the former United States Embassy in Tehran to protest against the government’s interim deal with world powers over the country’s nuclear program, and warning the government against selling out Iran’s interests during the on-going negotiations for a final and permanent nuclear accord.