Iran may allow IAEA into Parchin site if details settled

Iran may allow IAEA into Parchin site if details settled

PanARMENIAN.Net - Iran would be ready to allow the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to inspect the Parchin military site, which has been alleged to be part of a secret Tehran nuclear weapons programme, the ISNA news agency said Tuesday, March 6.

The ISNA carried a statement by Iran's IAEA office in Vienna saying that an inspection of the Parchin site could be allowed after relevant details were settled.

As Parchin, located south-east of Tehran, is not a registered nuclear site, Iran is not obliged to allow IAEA inspections there. Iranian authorities have already denied access by UN inspectors to the site during two visits by an IAEA team to Tehran.

Iran's atomic chief Fereydoun Abbasi however said last week that although inspection of the site was not obligatory, it was still feasible if the relevant authorities granted permission to the IAEA. Abbasi however denied that the Parchin site is used for any nuclear activity.

The IAEA wants clear answers from Iran on charges by mainly Western intelligence services that Iran is pursuing a secret nuclear weapons programme, including clarification of the nature of work at the Parchin site.

The Iranian statement further said that the Parchin site was inspected twice, last time in 2005, and no violation was reported to the IAEA board of governors.

The UN agency fears that since that time the site may have been used for simulated nuclear explosions.

Iran's IAEA envoy Ali Asghar Soltanieh said last month that inspection of the Parchin site could take place once an overall agreement was reached on solving all outstanding issues.

Diplomats in Vienna however fear that Iran would cover up nuclear activities at Parchin before any possible visit to the site, M&C reported citing DPA.

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