Nuclear Inspectors Will Need Access to Iran for Years, Says Head of IAEA

Source: Wall Street Journal

Iran will need to grant United Nations inspectors access to non-nuclear sites, including possible military ones, for years in order to fully gain international confidence in the peaceful nature of its nuclear program, Yukiya Amano, the director-general of the International Atomic Energy Agency said Monday.

Mr. Amano’s comments come after some senior Iranian officials said that they oppose giving international inspectors access to Iran’s military sites as part of a final nuclear deal between Iran and six world powers which is supposed to be concluded by June 30.

Mr. Amano said it would take years for the U.N.’s atomic agency to come to a final broad conclusion that Iran’s nuclear program is fully peaceful. During that time, Iran’s obligations under the so-called Additional Protocol mean they will need to allow IAEA inspectors to visit any undeclared non-nuclear sites if the agency has concerns about the activities there.

“This is a long process and full cooperation from the country” is needed, Mr. Amano said at a news conference.

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