Iran: Our specialists collected samples from Parchin without the presence of agency inspectors

The spokesperson for the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran stated that Iranian specialists have collected several samples from specific points at the Parchin site, but this action was taken without the presence of agency inspectors. Behrouz Kamalvandi mentioned in an interview with the IRNA news agency on Tuesday, September 30, that the agency's experts visited Iran last week and held multiple technical and legal meetings to address remaining questions and issues within the framework of a 'roadmap.' The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has reported that Iran provided 'significant' documents and maps related to its past and present nuclear program in mid-August, which revealed a series of ambiguities that the agency has requested Iran to clarify. The most critical aspect emphasized by the agency is the inspection and sampling of the military site at Parchin, where it is speculated that Iran conducted military-nuclear tests in the past aimed at equipping ballistic missiles with nuclear warheads. According to the roadmap signed on July 13 this year between Iran's Atomic Energy Organization and the IAEA, ambiguities related to Iran's past nuclear program are to be resolved. As the spokesperson for the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran stated to IRNA, 'Last week, several environmental samples were collected from specific points in the Parchin complex solely by Iranian specialists and without the presence of agency inspectors, while adhering to relevant regulations and standards, and were provided to the agency's experts.' He did not specify these regulations and standards. Despite repeated requests from the agency, Iran has not yet allowed its inspectors to visit the Parchin site. However, IAEA Director General Yukiya Amano visited this site on Sunday, September 29, which IRNA reported as a 'ceremonial' visit. Kamalvandi's statements on Tuesday confirmed remarks made by some American representatives and senators in congressional meetings over the past two months, revealing that, according to a clause in the Iran-IAEA agreement, sampling from the Parchin site is the responsibility of Iran, and American inspectors do not have the right to participate in inspections. The Associated Press also published a similar report on August 19, stating that it had obtained a draft document indicating that a confidential agreement between Iran and the IAEA allowed Tehran to use its own experts for inspections of the Parchin facilities. Both Iran and the U.S. rejected the Associated Press report and deemed concerns in this regard as unfounded. The agency is expected to gather all necessary information about the past and present of Iran's nuclear program within the framework of the 'roadmap' by October 15, and Yukiya Amano will present his final report to the Board of Governors on December 15. This report could pave the way for the implementation of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) or the Vienna Agreement. In another part of his statements, the spokesperson of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran referred to the meetings between Iranian experts and the agency, stating, 'The process of these meetings was constructive and based on cooperation between the parties, and it was agreed that cooperation would continue in the coming weeks and, according to the roadmap, would conclude by October 15.' According to IRNA, the two-day expert meeting between Iran and the agency concluded last Wednesday in Tehran. This meeting was led by Reza Najafi, Iran's permanent representative to the agency, and Vahrioranta, the deputy director-general of the agency for safeguards, and it was agreed to continue in the first week of October. Under the Vienna Agreement reached on July 13 between Iran and six world powers, Tehran must suspend many of its nuclear activities, and in return, international sanctions against it will be lifted or suspended.