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 The diplomats were familiar with details of a confidential
arrangement between Iran and the U.N. nuclear watchdog for
inspections at the Parchin site, where some countries suspect
nuclear weapons-related tests may have taken place.
Iran has denied that allegation, but agreed to accept comprehensive
International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) inspections of its suspect
sites as part of the historic July deal in exchange for an easing of
international sanctions.
An August report by the Associated Press, in its original version,
said the agreement on Parchin suggested that IAEA inspectors would
be barred from the site and would have to rely on information and
environmental samples provided by Iranian technicians. The AP later
published what it said was the text of an early draft of the
agreement that remains unconfirmed.
The report was seized on by Republicans in the U.S. Congress as
proof that President Barack Obama's administration gave in to Iran
on the sensitive issue of inspections to check on Tehran's suspected
ambition to build a nuclear bomb.
Iran says its nuclear program is entirely peaceful.
IAEA chief Yukiya Amano rejected the report as "a
misrepresentation", though he declined to provide details of what
some Republicans described as a "secret side deal" between Iran and
the IAEA on Parchin. Amano said on Aug. 20 that the arrangements
with Iran were technically sound.
The signed agreement between Iran and the IAEA has not been
disclosed publicly.
But the Western diplomats told Reuters that while Iranians would be
allowed to take the samples themselves, the agency's inspectors
would be physically present and would have full access to their
activity.
 "There was a compromise so the Iranians could save face and the IAEA
could ensure it carried out its inspections according to their
strict requirements," said one of the diplomats. Inspections at the
Parchin site, which is about 30 km (19 miles) southeast of Tehran,
would by carried out by mixed IAEA and Iranian teams coupled with
cameras overlooking and recording the process, the other diplomat
said.
"The IAEA will be present when the Iranians take the samples (at
Parchin). This approach to managed access is something that's fairly
standard in the IAEA toolbox. Nothing to worry about really," the
diplomat said.
"Unfortunately there have been distortions and inaccuracies in the
media that made it look like Iran would simply inspect itself.
That's not how it works," the diplomat added.
Neither the IAEA nor Iran's U.N. missions in New York or Vienna had
an immediate response to queries about the Parchin inspection
arrangement. Reza Najafi, Iran's envoy to the IAEA, said on Thursday
that Iran will not permit leaks of details about its arrangements
with the IAEA.
DEAL OPPONENTS SEIZED ON REPORT
Without IAEA confirmation that Iran is keeping promises enshrined in
the landmark July 14 nuclear accord, Tehran will not be granted
much-needed relief from sanctions.
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Under the deal, most sanctions on Iran will be lifted in exchange
for curbs on its nuclear program that will remain in place for at
least 10 years. According to data given to the IAEA by some member
countries, Iran may have conducted hydrodynamic tests at Parchin in
the past to assess how specific materials react under high pressure,
such as in a nuclear explosion. The AP story revised its story
several times. A corrected, three-paragraph version of the story
currently on its web site says that Iran will be allowed to use its
own experts to inspect Parchin, with no mention of the IAEA's role.
Republicans repeatedly cited the AP report in recent weeks as they
tried to muster enough votes kill the nuclear deal in Congress.
Their efforts effectively failed on Thursday when Senate Democrats
blocked a resolution disapproving of the pact, clearing the way for
the deal's implementation.
Republican Senator Susan Collins, who was one of very few
Republicans some observers thought might support the nuclear deal,
referred to the report in her Senate speech this week announcing she
would vote against it.
"According to press reports, the Iranians themselves would also be
responsible for photographs and environmental sampling of Parchin, a
large military installation where nuclear work is suspected to have
been conducted and may still be underway,” she said.
Republican Senator and presidential candidate Lindsey Graham wrote
to Secretary of State John Kerry requesting information on the AP
report.
"Allowing the Iranians to inspect their own nuclear sites,
particularly a notorious military site, is like allowing the inmates
to run the jail," said Graham.
Under a roadmap accord Iran reached with the IAEA alongside the July
14 political agreement, the Islamic Republic is required to give the
IAEA enough information about its past nuclear program to allow the
Vienna-based watchdog to write a report on the issue by year-end.
Iran has long stonewalled an IAEA investigation into the possible
military aspects of its past nuclear activities, relating mostly to
the period before 2003, saying intelligence spurring the agency's
investigation was fabricated. "The IAEA has no fears that its
requirements will be met," said the first diplomat. "That's not the
issue. The real issue is whether Iran satisfies our concerns by
year-end. At the moment they seem to be complying."
(Additional reporting by Shadia Nasralla in Vienna, Patricia
Zengerle in Washington; editing by Stuart Grudgings)
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