Najafi: Allegations of 'Possible Military Dimensions' are Baseless and False

Iran's representative to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has described the allegations made under the title 'Possible Military Dimensions of Iran's Nuclear Program' or PMD as 'baseless and false,' stating that Iran does not recognize these accusations. Reza Najafi emphasized in an interview with the state news agency IRIB on Thursday, June 11, that Iran has repeatedly stated in various instances and during meetings with the IAEA that the documents regarding these claims are fabricated. Najafi added, 'We have stated that if the Agency insists on the accuracy of its information, why does it not welcome Iran's proposal regarding a site in the Marivan area?' Speaking after the IAEA Board of Governors meeting on Thursday, he stressed, 'This indicates that the information provided to the Agency is incorrect. We raised this issue once again in today's meeting.' The IAEA claimed in its November 2011 report, based on information allegedly provided by 'a member state of this organization,' that Iran had conducted extensive explosive tests in the Marivan area that could be related to the development of a nuclear bomb. In response to this information, Iran informed the IAEA Board of Governors on November 20, 2014, that such a site in Marivan 'does not exist,' but at the same time, Iran is willing to 'allow a one-time managed access' to this 'alleged site.' Reports indicate that the Agency rejected Iran's invitation on December 11, 2014, stating that this proposal does not alleviate all concerns about Iran's potential extensive explosive tests. On the same day, Reuters quoted Serge Gas, the IAEA's Director of Public Relations, reporting that the main concern of this organization is the military site of Parchin on the outskirts of Tehran. Meanwhile, on Friday, June 8, the Agency announced in a confidential report, which Reuters obtained, that it still seeks answers from Iran regarding access to the Parchin military base. This international body claims that despite previous sampling during inspections of these facilities, it has obtained new information and needs to sample Parchin again, but Tehran has prevented the Agency's inspectors from visiting Parchin in recent years. This comes as the issue of access to Iran's military sites has become a contentious topic in the nuclear negotiations between Iran and the P5+1 group in recent weeks. The Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic has emphasized that Iran will not grant such permission, while the IAEA, U.S., and French officials have stated that a final nuclear agreement with Iran must allow visits to its military centers. Regarding the issue of potential Israeli espionage in the nuclear negotiations, Iran's ambassador to the IAEA stated in another part of his interview that this topic was 'not unexpected' for Iran, and negotiators have taken 'all necessary precautions' during the talks. He added, 'These negotiations have enemies, especially the Zionist regime, which does not want these negotiations to succeed.' Najafi emphasized, 'For this reason, they will not spare any effort, and it is not unexpected for us.' Following reports of potential Israeli cyber espionage from hotels where the nuclear negotiations between Iran and world powers were held, Switzerland and Austria, the two hosts of these negotiations, announced that they are conducting investigations in this regard. Israel has denied these reports.