Iran rejects international access to military sites, scientists

Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said the Americans are increasing their demands that international inspection of Iran’s military sites and interviews with Iranian scientists be included in the final nuclear deal, and vowed that Tehran will resist 'coercion and excessive demands'.

TEHRAN // Iran’s supreme leader vowed on Wednesday he will not allow international inspection of Iran’s military sites or access to Iranian scientists under any nuclear agreement with world powers.

Ayatollah Ali Khamenei told military commanders on Wednesday that Iran will resist “coercion and excessive demands” from America and other world powers.

Negotiators from Iran and a six-nation group – the US, Russia, China, Britain, France and Germany – have launched a new round of talks in Vienna focused on reaching a final deal that curbs Iran’s nuclear programme in return for lifting economic sanctions.

The two sides reached a tentative deal with the powers on April 2 and hope to strike a final deal by June 30.

Under the deal, Iran would allow UN inspectors to carry out more intrusive, short-notice inspections under an “Additional Protocol” to the Non-Proliferation Treaty. But there have been sharply differing interpretations from both sides on the details of that access.

A fact sheet on the framework accord issued by the US state department said Iran would be required to grant the UN nuclear agency access to any “suspicious sites”.

But Ayatollah Khamenei indicated that the Americans are increasing their demands that international inspection of Iran’s military sites and interviews with Iranian scientists be included in the final deal.

“The impudent and brazen enemy expects that we allow them talk to our scientists and researchers about a fundamental local achievement but no such permission will be allowed,” Ayatollah Khamenei told military commanders in Tehran on Wednesday, in remarks broadcast on state TV.

“No inspection of any military site or interview with nuclear scientists will be allowed.”

Ayatollah Khamenei said interviewing Iranian nuclear scientists would be an affront to Iran’s dignity.

“I will not allow foreigners to interview – which is tantamount to interrogation – the prominent beloved scientists and sons of this nation,” he said.

Ali Akbar Velayati, a senior adviser to Ayatollah Khamenei, was quoted by Iranian media this week as accusing the Americans of changing their position and toughening their stance as the deadline approaches.

“They insist on crossing [our] red lines. This turns into an obstacle,” Mr Velayati said.

* Associated Press and Reuters