A nuclear negotiator said there is no need for the inspection of military sites by the International Atomic Energy Agency to ensure Iran's compliance with its commitments under any nuclear deal with the powers.
"As the country's military facilities do not handle any nuclear materials, they cannot be subject to nuclear-related monitoring," Hamid Baeidinejad said, adding, "In fact, it is not necessary for the IAEA to inspect our military and defense facilities to meet its objectives."
"Under the current critical conditions, our country will not agree to the inspection of its defense facilities," he was quoted by IRNA as saying in a message on his Instagram account on Monday.
He called on the media to avoid "worrying people" and "provoking anxiety" among them and, instead, submit their ideas and suggestions to help the negotiating team better manage the talks.
In another development, the chairman of the Majlis National Security and Foreign Policy Committee reiterated Iran's stance that "nobody" has the right to inspect Iran's military centers. Such centers should be excluded from the list of facilities to which the IAEA would have authorized access for inspection, Alaeddin Boroujerdi told reporters on the sidelines of an open session of the committee on Sunday.
Iran is negotiating with the P5+1 (the US, Britain, France, Germany, Russia and China) to reach a deal on its nuclear program, which would require Iran to accept some restrictions for a specified period of time, including the inspection of its nuclear facilities, in exchange for international sanctions relief.
Iranian authorities have frequently rejected demands by some negotiating parties that Tehran should allow access to its military sites along with its nuclear centers for inspection.
