Iran says watchdog visit to Parchin nuke site still possible

Foreign Ministry also confirms Tehran converting enriched uranium into nuclear fuel

Satellite image of the Parchin facility, April 2012 (AP/Institute for Science and International Security)
Satellite image of the Parchin facility, April 2012 (AP/Institute for Science and International Security)

Iran’s Foreign Ministry says the UN nuclear watchdog’s demands to revisit a military site where Tehran is suspected of conducting nuclear-related experiments are still on the table.

Inspectors from the International Atomic Energy Agency arrive in Tehran for talks Wednesday in hopes of restarting a probe into Iran’s disputed nuclear program.

The agency in particular wants to visit Parchin, a military site southeast of Tehran, where Iran is suspected of testing components needed to develop nuclear weapons. Iran denies any such activity.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Ramin Mehmanparast said Tuesday that “the discussion over visiting Parchin could be part of a deal” with IAEA inspectors.

He said it would be up to the nuclear watchdog to recognize Iran’s right to nuclear power.

Mehmanparsat also confirmed Iran was converting some highly-enriched uranium to nuclear fuel.

“This work is being done and all its reports have been sent to the International Atomic Energy Agency in a complete manner,” Mehmanparast was quoted as saying by IRNA, according to Reuters.

Iran and the West are at odds over Tehran’s nuclear program, which the West suspects it aimed at weapons development. Iran denies the charge.

The move to convert the 20 percent-enriched uranium into reactor fuel, which cannot easily be used for a warhead, may represent an attempt by Iran to buy more time for diplomacy.

The country is set to open another round of talks with six world powers over the nuclear issue later this month in Kazakhstan.

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