Tension rises as nuclear inspectors denied access
TEHRAN — A fruitless visit to Iran by UN nuclear inspectors raised tensions on Wednesday, with Russia warning of “catastrophic” consequences if it leads to a military attack on its Middle East ally.
The United States expressed disappointment, and France said Iran’s refusal to let the inspectors visit a key military site was a “missed opportunity” that could undermine chances of reviving wider talks between Tehran and world powers.
But as worries over Iran pushed world oil prices to nine- month highs, Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, was defiant. He made no mention at all of the International Atomic Energy Agency ( IAEA) inspectors, instead reiterating the assertion that “the Iranian nation has never been seeking an atomic weapon and never will be.”
Possessing a nuclear bomb “constitutes a major sin,” he told a group of atomic scientists, but nuclear energy “is in Iran’s national interest. … “Pressure, sanctions, threats and assassinations will not bear any fruit and Iran will continue its path of [ nuclear] scientific development.”
The IAEA said it had gone into the two- day visit, and an inconclusive one last month, in a “constructive spirit,” but that no agreement had been reached on efforts to elucidate Iran’s nuclear activities.
Despite requests, “we could not get access” to a military site in Parchin, team leader and chief inspector Herman Nackaerts said on returning to Vienna. A specially designed containment building at the site led the IAEA to suggest earlier that it may be used to design and test the specialized explosives needed to trigger a nuclear reaction in a warhead.
IAEA chief Yukiya Amano said the refusal to allow the Parchin inspection was “disappointing,” and the UN watchdog said that “at this point in time” there was no agreement with Iran on holding further talks.
A Western diplomat in Vienna said Iran’s posture on Parchin showed why the world community “lacks confidence in the nature of its nuclear program.”
“This latest snub, along with its decision to begin enrichment at Qom, underscore Iran’s defiance of the international community and multiple Security Council resolutions,” said the diplomat.
But Iran’s envoy to the IAEA urged the watchdog not to “perturb the climate of cooperation,” saying talks would continue.
“During the past two days, we raised technical and legal matters. Technical answers were provided to the agency’s questions,” Ali Asghar Soltanieh was quoted by the state television’s website as saying. “This posture of cooperation and dialogue will continue, and we advise [ the IAEA] to avoid perturbing the climate of cooperation.”
White House spokesman Jay Carney said “we regret the failure of Iran to reach an agreement with the IAEA. It’s another demonstration of Iran’s refusal to abide by its international obligations.”
Oliver Thraenert, an analyst with the German Institute for International and Security Affairs, said the IAEA visit “shows clearly that Iran is not in the mood for substantial compromise,” adding that the chances of negotiations now resuming were “not very high.”
Talk of possible military action against Iran by Israel, with or without U. S. help, had lent urgency to diplomatic attempts to lower tensions.
Russia, which along with China has been giving Iran diplomatic cover, warned against that prospect.
“The scenario of military action against Iran would be catastrophic for the region and possibly the whole system of international relations,” said Deputy Foreign Minister Gennady Gatilov.
The United States and Europe have been ramping up economic sanctions on Iran since November, when the IAEA published a report crystallizing — though not proving — Western suspicions it was pursuing nuclear weapons research in Parchin and elsewhere.
Meanwhile the price of oil has spiked because of the continuing tension and Iranian threats to close off the strategic Strait of Hormuz, through which a fifth of the world’s oil is shipped, if it is attacked.
Brent North Sea crude for delivery in April soared as high as $ 123.07 per barrel and New York’s main contract, light sweet crude for April, jumped to $ 106.47 — levels last seen in early May 2011. Capital Economics analyst Julian Jessop warned that “Brent might spike as high as $ 210 in a worstcase scenario involving the closure of the Strait of Hormuz.”