White House: Nuclear Agency Has Not Compromised with Iran on Parchin

The United States government states that the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has not made any compromises with Tehran regarding its standards or safeguards concerning inspections and investigations at the Parchin site. Josh Earnest, the White House spokesman, told reporters on August 24 that 'the reality is that the agreement reached between Iran and the IAEA is consistent and aligned with the way this agency operates, which has a long history.' Mr. Earnest asserts that what is certain is that the agency will have access to all the information and sites it needs to prepare its report. These statements follow the reactions of U.S. officials defending the overall nuclear agreement and denying issues raised in a recent Associated Press report regarding the Parchin site. The Associated Press reported on August 19 that a confidential agreement between Iran and the IAEA allowed Tehran to conduct inspections of the Parchin facilities directly. Inspections of the Parchin facilities, one of the most important sites where the IAEA seeks answers about activities conducted there, are part of the nuclear negotiations and agreement. However, the agency's inspections and agreements with Iran are not directly part of the nuclear agreement between Iran and the six world powers, but the verification of Tehran's nuclear program is the responsibility of this international organization as a result of the joint action process of the parties. Following the publication of the Associated Press report, attacks from Republican critics of the nuclear agreement surged again. At the same time, the U.S. State Department dismissed 'concerns' about this matter and expressed confidence in the agency's inspection methods. Yukiya Amano, the Director General of the IAEA, also reacted, stating that the published report provides 'misleading information.' The IAEA has emphasized the confidentiality of parts of its agreements with Iran, stating that this is part of its operational procedure. In this context, Amano called the Associated Press report on the nuclear agreement 'incorrect.'