Arash Aramesh

Ali Akbar Salehi, director of Iran’s Atomic Energy Organization (IAEO), said June 21 that Iran will prevent two International Atomic Energy Agency inspectors from entering Iran. Salehi said these two inspectors “gave false reports to the IAEA” and “spoke to reporters,” thus violating IAEA regulations.

According to ISNA, Iran’s Students News Agency, Salehi asserted that any further inspections beyond NPT requirements will be “refused” by Iran. He added, “We will never allow any inspections beyond the [requirements of] NPT.”

Since the passage of the fourth round of UN Security Council sanctions against Iran and the West’s refusal to accept the trilateral deal reached among Iran, Turkey, and Brazil on May 16, the Islamic Republic has shown its dissatisfaction with the IAEA and the 5+1 and has threatened to decrease its cooperation with and even sever its ties to the IAEA.

The recent move to ban two IAEA inspectors is Iran’s response to a US-led effort in the UN. Iran’s claim that two individuals presented false reports to the IAEA is at best hard to verify. IAEA investigators write their reports as a collective group and do not submit individual assessments. Furthermore, the IAEA has disagreed with Iran over its claim that two investigators violated regulations by talking to the media.

Iran’s nuclear chief also announced that his country was capable of building another nuclear reactor similar to the research reactor in Tehran within three years. He said Iran has already learned how to build facilities similar to the one in Tehran so it will be not be difficult to build more similar facilities.

Salehi’s comments seem to be heavily influenced by recent motions and proposed pieces of legislation in the Iranian parliament to limit cooperation with the IAEA and build more nuclear facilities. The Iranian parliament does not have direct influence or oversight on Iran’s nuclear program, but can pass resolutions demanding tougher stances to be taken by Iranian officials. This is the case with a recent resolution asking the IAEO to refuse IAEA inspections beyond NPT requirements — a point in great dispute with the 5+1 permanent members of the UN Security Council.