IAEA allowed to interview Iran’s nuclear experts in former administration

Iran’s Foreign Minister, Mohammad Javad Zarif said interviewing Iranian nuclear scientists is not a recent issue as the UN International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) was permitted to interview the scientists during the administration of ex-president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad (2005–2013).

The interview issue is not linked to the Iran-P5+1 ongoing talks, Zarif said, adding this is a minor issue and the Islamic Republic has taken measures in last 10 years to put an end to the claims and excuses.

“In this respect, some steps were taken in order to remove the ambiguities and even interviews with Iranian nuclear scientists were conducted by the IAEA inspectors during the former government,” Zarif said, the Iranian Parliament’s official ICANA news agency reported May 25.

In that period some people were interviewed in Iran and even some disputed centers and places visited, however they found no clear indication to prove their claims, the Iranian top diplomat underlined.

Iran’s foreign minister further referred to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s disagreement for atomic scientists’ interview, saying surely all bodies in the government including nuclear negotiating team will conform to his orders.

Last week, Khamenei declared that Iran would never allow any inspection of its military sites or interview with its nuclear scientists under any nuclear deal with the P5+1(the US, UK, France, Russia, China, and Germany).

“I will not let foreigners to come and talk to our scientists and to interrogate our beloved and prominent sons of this nation who brought us this extensive nuclear knowledge,” Khamenei said.

Iran and the P5+1 reached a mutual understanding on Tehran’s nuclear program in the Swiss city of Lausanne on April 2. The parties have agreed to finalize a comprehensive deal on Tehran’s nuclear program by the end of June.

A new round of meetings for drafting a nuclear deal will begin in Vienna on May 26.

/By Trend/