IAEA Director General Yukiya Amano wants access to an Iranian military site. Photo Courtesy of UN Photo/Mark Garten.
Iran has flatly refused to allow inspectors to visit critical sites in the verification of the peaceful nature of Iran’s nuclear program, which is a key demand of the United Nations’ nuclear watchdog agency. A report on Sunday from the Fars News Agency quoted Lieutenant Commander of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) Brigadier General Hossein Salami as saying that “not only will we not grant foreigners the permission to inspect our military sites, we will not even give them permission to think about such a subject.”
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has long sought access to an Iranian military site where it is suspects Iran has done explosives tests with application to nuclear weapons. However, Salami appeared to dismiss even discussing such inspections. Iranian leader Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei made similar statements last week and has accused the West of being untrustworthy regarding their nuclear deal with Iran following comments from US President Barack Obama.
Ayatollah Khamenei was also quoted by Fars as saying that sanctions on his country should be lifted the same day of a final nuclear agreement, which seems to contrast with what that the US has repeatedly said: namely, that such a step should only occur when Iran abides by its initial commitments in the deal.
Fars’ report of Salami’s comments opposing inspections of military sites came the same weekend as Iran’s “Army Day,” which is when Iran displays its various missiles, naval capabilities, and other weapons.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu underscored the ongoing threat posed by Iran in comments released by his office by highlighting their military parade.
“Every year the missiles are bigger and enhanced—in accuracy, strength and deadliness; however, one thing does not change. What does not change is the inscription ‘Death to Israel’ on the missiles. Against the threats that I have described, Israel will do whatever is necessary to defend the security of the state and its citizens.”
(By Joshua Spurlock, www.themideastupdate.com, April 19, 2015)