Iranian nuclear experts have taken environmental samples from the military base at Parchin without UN inspectors being present, the spokesman for Iran’s atomic energy agency was quoted as saying yesterday.
The procedure for taking the samples, which could shed light on whether Iran’s nuclear program ever had a military dimension, has been under intense discussion since Tehran reached a nuclear deal with world powers in July.
Western diplomats earlier this month said that inspectors from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the UN nuclear watchdog, would observe samples being taken.
Photo: Reuters
“Iranian experts took samples from specific locations in Parchin facilities this week without IAEA’s inspectors being present,” Behruz Kamalvandi was quoted as saying by state news agency IRNA.
“They followed regulations and standards and the samples were given to IAEA’s experts,” the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran spokesman added.
He did not rule out IAEA inspectors being present for future samples being taken.
The statement came one day after IAEA Director-General Yukiya Amano visited the site at Parchin, the agency’s first visit there in a decade.
Iranian state media described the visit as ceremonial rather than an inspection.
“Amano paid a formal visit to Parchin, and visited some workshops about which there has been some false information,” Kamalvandi said.
The Vienna-based IAEA confirmed the site visit, which is significant given that previous requests for access had been refused.
Amano earlier on Sunday held talks with top Iranian officials about unresolved concerns over Iran’s nuclear program. He also met Iranian Minister of Foreign Affairs Mohammad Javad Zarif, President Hassan Rouhani and Atomic Energy Organization of Iran head Ali Akbar Salehi.
Amano also addressed a 12-member committee set up by the Iranian parliament to examine the deal, but the meeting was held behind closed doors.
Rouhani was quoted by the official Islamic Republic News Agency as telling Amano that Iran would implement the deal, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, and “we hope that you will fairly supervise the accord’s implementation.”
Additional reporting by AFP
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