Amano: Clarifying Iran's Nuclear Program is Possible with the Implementation of the Lausanne Agreement

Yukiya Amano, the Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), stated that the implementation of the Lausanne agreement could clarify the existence or absence of military dimensions in Iran's nuclear program. According to Reuters, Amano emphasized on Monday, June 8, that "I am confident that clarifying the potential military dimensions of Iran's nuclear program within an appropriate timeframe is possible, provided that Iran implements the actions outlined in the Lausanne declaration." Iran and six world powers reached a framework for a comprehensive nuclear agreement on April 2 of the previous year in Lausanne, Switzerland, which became known as the "Lausanne Agreement." The general text of the agreement reached by Iran and the U.S. has been announced, albeit with some differences. Amano stated that "implementing the additional protocol will significantly enhance the Agency's ability to provide credible assurances regarding the absence of undeclared nuclear activities and materials in Iran." Reuters reports that diplomats are concerned that lifting sanctions upon the implementation of the comprehensive nuclear agreement may reduce Iran's motivation to clarify the nuclear dimensions of its past. Iran asserts that it has not engaged in any military nuclear activities and has no such intentions. However, Reuters notes that despite the Agency's requests, Iran has resisted allowing inspections of some of its nuclear programs by the UN agency. On the same day as Amano's remarks, the European Union announced that it has informed Iran that if it seeks a nuclear agreement for the lifting of sanctions, it must cooperate with the IAEA regarding outstanding investigations. The Agency has requested a review of the Parchin military site for several years, which Iran has rejected. This international body had visited the site twice in 2005. The issues of "testing explosive triggers" and "computer simulations related to nuclear explosions" are two areas that the Agency states have not yet been clarified by Iran. Iran and the six world powers are currently working towards a comprehensive nuclear agreement by July 1. Reuters notes that this is the first time Amano has directly linked the independent technical inspections of the Agency regarding the potential military dimensions of Iran's past nuclear program to the nuclear negotiations between Tehran and the six world powers. Part of the initial Lausanne agreement pertains to Iran's commitment to implement the additional protocol, which allows the Agency to conduct unannounced inspections of Iran's nuclear facilities. Reuters states that Iranian officials are sending conflicting messages regarding the type of access the Agency will have to their military sites. Recently, Abbas Araqchi, Iran's chief nuclear negotiator, stated that "limited and managed access to Iran's military sites will be granted." A day after Araqchi's remarks, Masoud Jazayeri, Deputy Chief of Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces, stated on June 5 that even "limited and controlled" visits to Iran's military sites will not be allowed. In this context, Araqchi announced the possibility of extending Iran's nuclear negotiations beyond July 1. Addressing the issue of "PMD" (Possible Military Dimensions) is one of the keys to implementing the nuclear agreement. Araqchi: Managed access to military sites does not mean inspections. Jazayeri: We will not allow even "controlled" visits to military sites.