Nuke access blocked
Iran’s parliament voted to make nuclear inspections of military sites off-limits.
TEHRAN, Iran — With some lawmakers chanting “Death to the America,” Iran’s parliament voted to ban access to military sites, documents and scientists as part of a future deal with world powers over its contested nuclear program.
The bill, if ratified, could complicate the ongoing talks in Vienna between Iran and the six-nation group — China, France, Germany, Russia, the U.K. and the U.S. — as they face a self-imposed June 30 deadline.
The talks are focused on reaching a final accord that curbs Iran’s nuclear program in return for the lifting of economic sanctions.
Of 213 lawmakers present Sunday, 199 voted in favor of the bill, which also demands the complete lifting of all sanctions against Iran as part of any final nuclear accord. The bill must be ratified by the Guardian Council, a constitutional watchdog, to become a law.
The terms stipulated in the bill allow for international inspections of Iranian nuclear sites but forbid any inspections of military facilities.
The bill states in part: “The International Atomic Energy Agency, within the framework of the safeguard agreement, is allowed to carry out conventional inspections of nuclear sites.”
However, it concludes that “access to military, security and sensitive nonnuclear sites, as well as documents and scientists, is forbidden.” It also would require Iran’s foreign minister to report to parliament every six months on the process of implementing the accord.
Iran’s nuclear negotiators say they already have agreed to grant United Nations inspectors “managed access” to military sites under strict control and specific circumstances. That right includes allowing inspectors to take envi- ronmental samples around military sites.
But Iranian officials, including Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, have strongly rejected the idea of Iranian scientists being interviewed.
The plan emphasizes the removal of all sanctions the same day that Iran starts implementing its commitments based on the nuclear agreement.
The parliament should be informed about the outcome of the nuclear talks, according to the plan.
Also, the Foreign Ministry would have to present a report of the possible nuclear agreement implementation every six months.
Iran and China, France, Germany, Russia, the U.K. and the U.S. are in intense talks to hammer out a comprehensive nuclear deal by the end of June.
Iran is resisting Western demands for access to its military sites and interviews with Iranian nuclear experts and security officials.
In a statement Sunday, the U.S. State Department said inspections remain a key part of any final deal.
All parties “are well aware of what is necessary for a final deal, including the access and transparency that will meet our bottom lines,” the statement said. “We won’t agree to a deal without that.”