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6/21/15, "Iran's Parliament Bans Nuclear Inspectors from Military Sites: 'Death to America'," AP, Tehran, Iran
"With
some lawmakers chanting "Death to the America," Iran's parliament voted
to ban access to military sites, documents and scientists as part of a
future deal with world powers over its contested nuclear program.
The
bill, if ratified, could complicate the ongoing talks in Vienna between
Iran and the six-nation group — the U.S., Britain, France, Russia,
China and Germany — as they face a self-imposed June 30 deadline. The
talks are focused on reaching a final accord that curbs Iran's nuclear
program in return for the lifting of economic sanctions.
Of 213
lawmakers present on Sunday, 199 voted in favor of the bill, which also
demands the complete lifting of all sanctions against Iran as part of
any final nuclear accord. The bill must be ratified by the Guardian
Council, a constitutional watchdog, to become a law.
The terms
stipulated in the bill allow for international inspections of Iranian
nuclear sites, but forbid any inspections of military facilities.
The
bill states in part: "The International Atomic Energy Agency, within
the framework of the safeguard agreement, is allowed to carry out
conventional inspections of nuclear sites."
However, it concludes
that "access to military, security and sensitive non-nuclear sites, as
well as documents and scientists, is forbidden." It also would require
Iran's foreign minister to report to parliament every six months on the
process of implementing the accord.
Iran's nuclear negotiators say
they already have agreed to grant United Nations inspectors "managed
access" to military sites under strict control and specific
circumstances. That right includes allowing inspectors to take
environmental samples around military sites.
But Iranian officials, including Ayatollah Ali Khameni, have strongly rejected the idea of Iranian scientists being interviewed.
In a statement Sunday, the U.S. State Department said inspections remain a key part of any final deal. All
parties "are well aware of what is necessary for a final deal,
including the access and transparency that will meet our bottom lines,"
the statement said. "We won't agree to a deal without that."" via Free Rep.
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