Iran not obliged to address alleged questions

Baku, Azerbaijan, Feb. 20

By Dalga Khatinoglu - Trend:

Iran's representative to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) says Tehran has no obligation to answer the "alleged false questions".

Reza Najafi told Fars News Agency Feb.20 that it's those countries' responsibility to admit they have provided "false and baseless" information to the IAEA and this international body should announce that the alleged claims are wrong.

His statements about the "false information" refer to IAEA's two questions from Iran to find out further information on high explosives testing and computer modeling that could be related to developing nuclear weaponry. Iran rejects these claims.

IAEA released its first report for 2015 on Iran's nuclear activity in Feb. 19 to the U.N. Security Council and the IAEA's 35 board member nations.

"The detailed report of the IAEA indicates "the complete transparency of Iran's peaceful nuclear program," Najafi said. He also said that Iran allowed IAEA to conduct a restrictive inspection at Marivan site.

Reuters reported last December that IAEA rejected Iran's proposal to inspect Marivan site and the Agency's priority for inspection is Iran's Parchin military base where allegedly Iran conducted suspicious nuclear tests. Marivan is located more than 700 kilometers (434 miles) west of the Iranian capital, Tehran.

The major developments mentioned in IAEA report:

- Iran has not provided any explanations that enable the Agency to clarify the two outstanding practical measures, nor has it proposed any new practical measures in the next step of the Framework for Cooperation.

- The Agency has continued to undertake monitoring and verification in relation to the nuclear-related measures set out in the Joint Plan of Action (JPA), as further extended.

-Since the JPA took effect, Iran has not enriched UF6 above 5% U-235 at any of its declared facilities and all of its stock of UF6 enriched up to 20% U-235 has been further processed through downblending or conversion into uranium oxide.

- Enrichment of UF6 up to 5% U-235 has continued at a rate of production similar to that indicated in the Director General's previous reports. The amount of such nuclear material that remains in the form of UF6 enriched up to 5% U-235 is 7952.9 kg.

- No additional major components have been installed at the IR-40 Reactor and there has been no manufacture and testing of fuel for the reactor.

- Iran has continued to provide the Agency with managed access to centrifuge assembly workshops, centrifuge rotor production workshops and storage facilities.

Iran rejects allowing IAEA's inspectors to visit Parchin, saying that this place is a military base, not nuclear site.

IAEA's new report was released while Iran and the U.S. are preparing to hold three days of negotiations starting Feb.20 in Geneva.

The talks between Iran and the P5+1 (the US, UK, France, Russia, China and Germany) were extended until June 30, 2015 to reach a comprehensive nuclear agreement. However, the sides attempt to reach a political accord in March.

After the parties failed to meet the November 24, 2014 deadline they also extended the Geneva nuclear deal, which was signed in November 2013 for providing Iran with some sanctions relief in exchange for Tehran agreeing to limit certain aspects of its nuclear activities.

Edited by CN