Amano: Inspections of Iran's Military Sites Must Be Part of Final Agreement

Yukiya Amano, the Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), stated in an interview with AFP on Wednesday, June 6, that if Iran signs a nuclear agreement with world powers, the acceptance of inspections of Iran's military sites must also be part of it. Iran and world powers are working to reach a final nuclear agreement by the end of June, but currently, the issue of allowing visits to Iran's military sites has become one of the contentious obstacles in reaching a final agreement. On Wednesday, Amano confirmed that Tehran has agreed to implement the Additional Protocol to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT), which allows for surprise visits to nuclear facilities and, if necessary, Iran's military sites. However, there are currently many disagreements regarding the interpretation of this protocol, and the parties have a long way to go before fully accepting each other's interpretations. Amano said that if a final agreement is signed, Iran will face the same type of IAEA inspections that each of the 120 countries that have joined the Additional Protocol face. He added that 'when we notice inconsistencies or when we have doubts, we may request inspections of various locations, which may include military sites.' The Director General continued, 'Of course, due to the sensitivity of these sites, some consideration will be needed, but the IAEA has the right to request inspections of all locations, including military sites.' Amano added that once a final agreement is reached, 'it will take several months' to determine whether Iran's nuclear program has military dimensions, and 'it will take years to be able to confidently say that all of Iran's [nuclear] activities have been for peaceful purposes.' Last week, Ali Khamenei, the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic, ruled out granting permission for nuclear inspectors to visit Iran's military sites or interview Iranian nuclear scientists. Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif also stated that the Additional Protocol allows for 'some access,' but inspections of military sites are not part of it. A new round of nuclear talks between Iran and world powers to continue drafting the final nuclear agreement began on Wednesday, June 6, in Vienna, with a one-day delay.