Iran may accept snap inspections of its atomic facilities: official

PanARMENIAN.Net - An Iranian nuclear official says the country may accept snap inspections of its atomic facilities should Iran and world powers reach a final agreement over Tehran's contentious nuclear program, the Associated Press reports.

In 2003, Iran accepted the so-called "additional protocol" of snap inspections for two years, but parliament never ratified it.

Quoted by official IRNA news agency, atomic energy organization spokesman Behrouz Kamalvandi said: "The government may accept the additional protocol based on its expediency and progress in the nuclear talks, but Iranian parliament makes the final decision."

Iran and world powers — the five permanent members of the UN Security Council plus Germany — are negotiating to reach a final deal, with the next round convening July 2.

The West suspects Iran's nuclear program has a military dimension, a charge Iran denies.