Boroujerdi: Visits to Military Sites Subject to National Security Council Decision

The head of the National Security and Foreign Policy Commission of the Iranian Parliament stated that visits by International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) experts to military sites are contingent upon the decision of the Supreme National Security Council. However, Aladdin Boroujerdi emphasized that "our military sites have their own specific structure and have no connection to nuclear issues and the JCPOA." This member of the Islamic Consultative Assembly, in an interview with the Fars News Agency—close to the Revolutionary Guards—accused the United States of "trying to disrupt the implementation scene of the JCPOA" and attributed this to the U.S. being a "loser" due to "lack of communication with Iran in the implementation of the JCPOA." Boroujerdi's comments were a reaction to statements made by the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, who expressed concern over the lack of inspections of Iran's military sites to verify Tehran's nuclear program. Nikki Haley, who met with Yukiya Amano, the IAEA Director General, in Vienna on August 23, stated: "I trust the Agency, but they are dealing with a country that has a clear history of lying and secret nuclear programs." The U.S. ambassador to the UN is considered one of the harshest critics of Iran and the nuclear agreement, repeatedly calling for stricter oversight of the implementation of the JCPOA. Iran has protested Haley's visit to the IAEA headquarters, deeming it a "violation of the JCPOA". Simultaneously, officials of the Islamic Republic have rejected the possibility of IAEA inspections of Iran's military sites. According to statements from parliamentary representatives, Iran appears to be concerned about the potential leakage of information regarding its military sites during inspections by the Agency. This concern was echoed by Boroujerdi, who stated that "foreign individuals may seek access to our military information and capabilities in non-nuclear areas under the guise of IAEA inspectors and may want to obtain information in this regard." Mohammad Ismail Saeidi, a representative from Tabriz, also told the Tasnim News Agency—close to the Revolutionary Guards—that "the Islamic Republic of Iran considers its military sites a red line and will never allow any foreigner to visit military sites." Hossein Naqavi Hosseini, spokesman for the National Security and Foreign Policy Commission, also stressed that "visits by Westerners to Iran's military sites will not be possible under any circumstances." He told Tasnim News Agency that "military sites in all countries are considered secret sectors" and emphasized: "We will not allow visits to military sites under any circumstances, and it is impossible to allow a foreign party to visit our military sites." Iran and six world powers reached a comprehensive agreement in July 2015 to resolve the Islamic Republic's nuclear program, under which Iran agreed to suspend many of its nuclear activities in exchange for the lifting or reduction of international sanctions against Iran. Donald Trump, the U.S. president, who is a staunch opponent of the previous U.S. administration's nuclear agreement with Iran, has suggested that Iran's compliance with the Vienna agreement may not be confirmed in the October review. The continuation of the lifting of nuclear sanctions and the issuance of commercial and banking licenses for institutions and companies dealing with Iran is contingent upon this confirmation, and the current U.S. administration has, despite pointing to "violations of the spirit of the JCPOA" by Iran, confirmed Tehran's compliance with its commitments under the agreement twice since January. In this context, the U.S. ambassador stated: IAEA inspectors must gain access to Iran's military bases. Iran's representation at the Agency protested Nikki Haley's trip to Vienna. Iran rejected any inspections of its military bases by the Agency. Rouhani: I doubt the Agency will yield to the U.S. The Agency: Iran has adhered to the limitations set forth under the JCPOA. Zarif: Nikki Haley's statements reflect her "ignorance" of the JCPOA text.