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VIENNA (AP) — The head of the U.N.'s atomic agency is setting the stage for a potential showdown with Iran -- by saying that a nuclear agreement that's in the works would give his experts the right to push for access to Iranian military sites.
Yukiya Amano (yoo-KEE'-ah ah-MAHN'-oh), who heads the International Atomic Energy Agency, spoke as negotiators opened a new round of talks aimed at reaching a deal by the end of June.
Iran tentatively agreed last month to open its atomic activities to greater scrutiny as part of the deal -- which would require it to curb nuclear activities that could be used to make weapons. In exchange, Iran would see relief from international sanctions. Amano says Iran specifically agreed to implement provisions allowing inspectors to have much more access than they now have.
But Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has declared military sites off limits to "foreigners" who he said would be working "under the pretext of inspections." And an Iranian Revolutionary Guard commander has said anyone setting foot into an Iranian military facility will be met with "hot lead."
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211-a-13-(Yukiya Amano (yoo-KEE'-uh ah-MAHN'-oh), director general, International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), in AP interview)-"how to respond"-The head of the U.N. atomic agency, Yukiya Amano, says his monitors must be able to get a complete picture of Iran's nuclear capabilities, even at its military sites. (12 May 2015)
<<CUT *211 (05/12/15)££ 00:13 "how to respond"
212-a-18-(Yukiya Amano (yoo-KEE'-uh ah-MAHN'-oh), director general, International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA),, in AP interview)-"to accept it"-The head of the U.N. atomic agency, Yukiya Amano, says that a nuclear agreement being worked on by Tehran and six world powers would give his experts the right to inspect Iranian military sites. (12 May 2015)
<<CUT *212 (05/12/15)££ 00:18 "to accept it"
APPHOTO XRZ103: Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency, IAEA, Yukiya Amano from Japan speaks during an interview with the Associated Press in Vienna, Austria, Tuesday, May 12, 2015. Amano said setting up a potential showdown with Iran, that his experts will have the right to push for access to Iranian military sites under an envisaged nuclear agreement between Tehran and six world powers. (AP Photo/Ronald Zak) (12 May 2015)
<<APPHOTO XRZ103 (05/12/15)££
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