Iranian leader rejects investigation of possible nuclear arms sites

VIENNA — The U.S. may have to soften demands that any nuclear deal with Iran gives U.N. experts a free hand to investigate possible past nuclear arms works by Tehran, after Iran’s supreme leader stridently ruled out cooperation Wednesday.

The move came just weeks ahead of a June deadline for a nuclear deal. The West insists that a ruling by the U.N.’s International Atomic Energy Agency on the allegations about past activities, based on full Iranian cooperation with an IAEA probe, is essential to be able to understand Tehran’s present nuclear activities. U.S. conditions

The U.S. and its allies have conditioned full lifting of sanctions on Iran’s willingness to help with the investigation.

Attempts to investigate the allegations by the U.N.’s International Atomic Energy Agency have been essentially stalemated for almost a decade. Still, Washington and its allies had hoped that as the nuclear deal emerges with its promise of sanctions relief for Iran, it would soften Tehran’s resistance.

Instead, Iran appeared to be digging in, as nuclear experts from Iran, the United States, Russia, China, Britain France and Germany resumed negotiations in Vienna on a deal. Refused requests

Tehran has steadfastly refused IAEA requests for visits to suspicious sites and interviews with individuals allegedly involved in secret weapons in agency investigative efforts predating the latest Iran-six nation nuclear negotiations. And on Wednesday, Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei appeared to link his veto on such access to the talks themselves.

“No inspection of any military site and interview with nuclear scientists will be allowed” Khamenei told military commanders. “The enemies should know that the Iranian nation and officials will by no means give in to excessive demands and bullying.”

Iran tentatively agreed last month to open its atomic activities to greater scrutiny as part of the deal, which would require it to commit to curbing nuclear activities that could be used to make weapons. While Iran insists it has no interest in such arms, it is negotiating in exchange for an end to international sanctions.