Iran Fears Visiting U.N. Nuke Inspectors

Posted on Thu, Jan. 13, 2005

Iran Fears Visiting U.N. Nuke Inspectors

ALI AKBAR DAREINI
Associated Press


TEHRAN, Iran - Iranian officials vowed to carefully watch for any attempted espionage by international inspectors visiting a military complex Thursday that the United States alleges may be involved in nuclear weapons research.

Inspectors from the International Atomic Energy Agency, the U.N. nuclear watchdog agency, arrived in Iran on Wednesday for a visit to the huge Parchin military complex just outside the capital Tehran, according to state-run television.

Iran has said it will allow U.N. nuclear experts to take environmental samples from landscaped areas outside the military complex's ammunition production workshops but that it won't allow them to inspect military equipment.

The IAEA has been pressing Tehran for months to be allowed to inspect the complex, long used to research, develop and produce ammunition, missiles and high explosives.

In leaks to media last year, unidentified U.S. intelligence officials were quoted as saying Iran could be using a secured site at Parchin in research on high-explosive components for use in nuclear weapons. Iran repeatedly has denied allegations of a secret nuclear weapons programs, saying its nuclear activities are for peaceful energy purposes.
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http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/news/world/10635261.htm
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Not allowing inspection only invites another Iraq...

when Iraq let the UN inspectors in during the 90's the US and others started conducting espionage in violation of the inspections process.

The Iranians are justifiably afraid of the same thing.

The U.S. cannot be given another reason to go to war. They U.S. wants it badly, but they need something that looks good on camera.