Tehran, Iran, May 19
By Mehdi Sepahvand - Trend:
As talks continue on Iran's nuclear program, Western countries and organizations have proven that they are seeking a way into the country's non-nuclear sites, claiming that their concerns cover Iran's non-nuclear as well as nuclear sites.
In an interview with AP, IAEA Secretary General Yukiya Amano said recently that a prospective agreement between Iran and the group 5+1 (the US, UK, France, Russia, China, and Germany) would allow the IAEA the right to ask for inspection of Iran's military sites.
Western sides have also suggested that if Iran signs the Additional Protocol to the Non-Proliferation Treaty, they would have more control over Iran's nuclear activities. But Iran has strongly opposed the idea of giving way over its non-nuclear facilities.
Signing the Additional Protocol is the responsibility of the Parliament, which has not signed it so far, and is unlikely to do so in the future, Senior Iranian MP Mansour Haqiqatpour told Trend May 19.
Haqiqatpour, who is the second deputy chairman of the Iranian Parliament's National Security and Foreign Policy Committee, asserted that the West would not see the day of inspecting Iran's military sites.
Atomic Energy Organization of Iran spokesman Behrooz Kamalvandi said May 13 that Iran neither has signed the protocol nor there is any part to the protocol which allows access to the military sites of a country, adding nonetheless that according to Article 5 of the protocol, any inspection would require evidence and would nonetheless consider the security concerns of the signatories.
Also, Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said May 18 that the Additional Protocol to the NPT would not allow unbridled inspections of the country's nuclear sites.
Haqiqatpour further said that Iran's efforts are focused on defending its national interests and that the Islamic Republic is aware that the case is complicated and full of challenges.
"They try to limit us, but we will stand to protect our nuclear achievements and our nuclear future," he stated.
Iran and the six major powers are holding negotiations to reach a comprehensive deal on Tehran's nuclear program by June 30.
The deal is expected to limit Iran's nuclear activities, and in return remove economic sanctions on the country.
Edited by CN
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