Iraqchi: The Issue of Inspections of Iran's Military Sites Has Been Resolved

A senior member of Iran's nuclear negotiation team stated that in the new roadmap between Iran and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the issue of inspections of Iran's military sites has been 'resolved' and there is a 'good mutual understanding' between the two sides. Abbas Iraqchi emphasized in an interview with Al-Alam network on Sunday, August 4, that access to military sites to clarify ambiguities regarding potential military dimensions of Iran's nuclear program or PMD has been 'settled' and there is 'no cause for concern.' According to the 'roadmap' signed on Tuesday, July 23, just hours before the official announcement of the comprehensive nuclear agreement between Iran and the 1+5 group, the two sides reached a 'separate agreement' regarding the military site of Parchin. This section of the new roadmap does not mention any details of this 'separate arrangement.' However, on Thursday, August 1, an American senator stated during a Q&A session of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee with John Kerry, Ernest Moniz, and Jack Lew, that according to the agreement between Iran and the Agency, sampling will be conducted by Iran itself. Meanwhile, Reza Najafi, Iran's permanent representative to the IAEA, warned that disclosing the 'confidential' arrangements of this agreement would negatively impact its implementation. Mr. Iraqchi further stated that Iran will implement the Additional Protocol of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) in the future. He emphasized that the Additional Protocol 'does not necessarily require access to military sites,' but access to these sites will be within the framework of 'specific processes' about which 'there is no cause for concern.' Mr. Iraqchi's statements come as John Kerry, the U.S. Secretary of State, and Ernest Moniz, the U.S. Secretary of Energy, announced in an article for the Washington Post that IAEA inspectors can request visits to any location within 24 hours based on the 'Additional Protocol.' According to them, the comprehensive agreement has empowered this possibility by creating a new mechanism and prevents Tehran from delaying visits indefinitely. 'Testing of medium-range missiles does not violate the Vienna nuclear agreement.' In another part of his remarks, Mr. Iraqchi stated that Iran's potential action to 'test medium-range missiles' would not violate the Vienna nuclear agreement and is at 'most' a violation of UN Security Council Resolution 2231. He emphasized that the language used in Resolution 2231 regarding Iran's missile program is 'not a binding and legal obligation.' According to Mr. Iraqchi, this resolution requests Iran not to engage in activities related to ballistic missiles capable of carrying nuclear warheads. He added that none of the Islamic Republic's missiles are designed to carry nuclear warheads and are 'completely outside the scope of the new Security Council resolution.' Previously, Mohammad Javad Zarif, Iran's Foreign Minister, also stated that the annex regarding ballistic missiles in the Security Council resolution is 'non-binding' and that the term 'designed for the capability to carry nuclear weapons' is being added to the Security Council resolution for the first time. One day before Mr. Zarif's remarks, Mohammad Ali Jafari, the commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, stated that some items in the draft resolution of the Security Council 'will never be accepted' and 'have no validity.' The resolution on Tuesday, July 29, allows the transfer of ballistic missile technology and heavy weapons to Iran, with the approval of Security Council members, but the United States has stated that it will veto such a move. The resolution also maintains restrictions on ballistic missile technology for eight years and heavy weapons for five years. The Security Council resolution also keeps conventional arms sanctions against Iran in place for five years. Mr. Iraqchi also stated on Sunday that the final decision regarding the Vienna agreement will be made by the representatives of the parliament or the Supreme National Security Council. According to a law titled 'Obligation of the Government to Preserve Nuclear Achievements and Rights,' which was passed by the Iranian parliament and approved by the Guardian Council on Wednesday, July 3, the 'results of negotiations' regarding Iran's nuclear program 'must be presented to the parliament for compliance with the constitution and legal resolutions.' Meanwhile, Mohammad Javad Zarif presented the text of the agreement between Iran and the 1+5 group to the parliament on Tuesday, July 30, and the parliament formed a 'special' commission to review this agreement. On the same day, Ahmad Tavakoli, a representative from Tehran, stated that the text of the Vienna nuclear agreement should be presented to the parliament as a bill. According to IRNA, Mr. Tavakoli reiterated his point in the parliament session on Sunday, August 4, and Ali Larijani, the parliament speaker, responded that 'the minister can report to the parliament, but bills must be sent to the parliament by the government.' Ali Khamenei, the leader of the Islamic Republic, on Saturday, July 27, referring to the 'legal path' for the ratification of the agreement between Iran and the 1+5 group, stated, 'We expect the officials to carefully consider the national and country issues and what they deliver to the nation should be presented with dignity before the Almighty God.' However, according to Fars News Agency, Iraj Abdi, a representative from Khorramabad, quoted Ali Larijani, the parliament speaker, saying that the nuclear issue is being 'monitored' by the Supreme Leader and that the parliament should not have concerns regarding this issue. According to Mr. Abdi, Mr. Larijani made these remarks in the Sunday session of the parliament's principlist faction.