Comments from Iran\’s deputy foreign minister contradict those of Supreme Leader who rejected idea of UN inspections.
Iran has agreed to grant United Nations inspectors "managed access" to military sites as part of a future deal over its contested nuclear program, a negotiator said Sunday, apparently contradicting earlier comments by the nation\’s supreme leader.
Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister\’s comments, carried by state television, came after he and Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif attended a reportedly stormy closed session of parliament.
"Iran has agreed to grant managed access to military sites," state TV quoted Araghchi as saying Sunday.
Lawmaker Ahmad Shoohani, a member of parliament\’s National Security and Foreign Policy Committee who attended the closed-door session, said restricted inspections of military sites will be carried out under strict control and specific circumstances.
"Managed access will be in a shape where UN inspectors will have the possibility of taking environmental samples from the vicinity of military sites," Shoohani said.
Iran\’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, vowed Wednesday to not allow international inspection of Iran\’s military sites or access to Iranian scientists under any nuclear agreement. Iran\’s military leaders also angrily have refused such demands. The state TV report did not elaborate on Araghchi\’s comments apparently contradicting those two powerful forces in the Iranian government.