News
US intelligence shows Iran cleaning up nuclear site ahead of IAEA inspection
US lawmakers have been shown intelligence reports which suggest that Iran is attempting to ‘sanitise’ the Parchin nuclear facility ahead of an anticipated inspection by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
A long-term agreement between Iran and the P5+1 powers (US, UK, France, Russia, China and Germany) was concluded last month, which will likely see international sanctions lifted in return for a slowdown in Iranian nuclear development over the next decade. The deal must receive the approval of US Congress by 17 September and intensive lobbying efforts are underway to impact lawmakers on Capitol Hill.
Bloomberg says that the Office of the Director of National Intelligence this week met with politicians to explain the significance of satellite imagery which appears to show heavy machinery and bulldozers at Parchin, where it is suspected Iran has previously carried out tests related to nuclear weapon detonation. Iran has previously denied access to international inspectors at Parchin.
Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Bob Corker, who was briefed on the report, said “The intel[ligence] briefing was troubling to me … some of the things that are happening, especially happening in such a blatant way.” Meanwhile, Senate Intelligence Committee Chairman Richard Burr commented, “I think it’s up to the administration to draw their conclusions. Hopefully this is something they will speak on,” as “their [Iran’s] actions seem to be against the grain of the agreement.”
Opponents of the deal have expressed deep concern that the accord does not include sufficient mechanisms to ensure Iranian compliance. This latest intelligence report will likely intensify these fears. Critics have also been alarmed by Iranian officials who have insisted that inspectors will be denied access to military sites, in contravention of the accord, by which the IAEA can request access to any site if it has evidence of a possible violation. However, the deal specifies a complex 24-day process from request to inspection, another measure denounced by critics.