No Iran nuke deal without military site checks: France
French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius yesterday said that France would oppose a nuclear deal with Iran if it did not allow inspections of military sites.
An agreement "will not be accepted by France if it is not clear that verifications can be made at all Iranian facilities, including military sites," Fabius told parliament.
Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei last week ruled out inspections at military sites.
But Yukiya Amano, the head of the UN's atomic watchdog, told AFP on Tuesday that Iran has agreed to implementing the Additional Protocol of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) that allows for snap inspections of its nuclear facilities, and if required, military sites.
"When we find inconsistency or when we have doubts, we can request access to the undeclared location for example, and this could include military sites," said the Japanese diplomat.
But Iran appears to be interpreting the protocol differently. As well as Khamenei's comments, Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif has said the protocol allows "some access" but not inspections of military sites, in order to protect national "military or economic secrets".
Meanwhile, a senior Iranian negotiator yesterday said talks between Iran and world powers aimed at finalising a deal over Tehran's nuclear programme could go beyond a June 30 deadline.
With the issue of access to military sites emerging as a potential deal-breaker, Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei praised the work of his nuclear negotiators after they came under heavy criticism from the conservative camp in parliament.
Iran and the so-called P5+1 group -- Britain, China, France, Russia, the United States plus Germany -- have been engaged for nearly two years in negotiations on Tehran's nuclear programme.
The two sides signed a framework agreement on April 2 and began meeting in Vienna on Wednesday to start finalising a deal which is due by June 30.
The deal is aimed at preventing Iran from developing the atomic bomb in exchange for an easing of crippling economic sanctions.
Comments