Iran offers UN nuclear watchdog to inspect Marivan site
By Sara Rajabova
Iran allows the inspectors of the International Atomic Energy Organization to visit its nuclear site in country’s western region of Marivan.
Reza Najafi, Iran’s envoy to the IAEA, said in a statement on March 5 that Tehran has already asked the agency to visit the site to clear allegations of large-scale experiments on explosives, Press TV reported.
The international body rejected the offer to visit the site, according to the statement.
The Marivan nuclear site, close to the Iraqi border, is suspected of being used to develop explosive weapons, and was referred to by the IAEA in a 2011 report on Iran's alleged pursuit of nuclear weapons.
Najafi said the agency cannot cover up its mistake regarding false accusations against Iran by simply rejecting the Islamic Republic’s offer.
IAEA report in 2011 claimed that it had information indicating large-scale high-explosive experiments at the site, which is located more than 700 kilometers west of the Iranian capital, Tehran.
Iran has repeatedly dismissed the accusations as baseless and fabricated.
Besides Marivan, the IAEA also suspects that Iran's Parchin military base could be used for nuclear tests, but Iran has so far denied access to Parchin.
Western states want Iran to significantly curtail its nuclear program, while Iran has continued to insist that it has an inalienable right to develop its civilian atomic program.
Iran is continuing the cooperation with the IAEA to provide more transparency on its peaceful nuclear program.
A team of the UN nuclear watchdog is planning to visit Tehran in March to hold technical talks with senior officials of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran.
The last technical meeting between the two sides was held last November.
Iran says it has granted the IAEA access to the sites that the agency claims need to be investigated in order to clarify outstanding issues. Tehran has emphasized its readiness for full cooperation with the IAEA.
Separately, Iran and the P5+1 group - Russia, China, France, Britain, the United States and Germany - are negotiating to narrow their differences over Tehran’s nuclear energy program ahead of a July 1 deadline for a comprehensive agreement.
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Sara Rajabova is AzerNews’ staff journalist, follow her on
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