In the decades-long efforts to accuse Iran of a secret nuclear weapons program, the Parchin testing site has repeatedly come into focus. A conventional military site used for explosives and rocket testing, international groups have repeatedly sought IAEA access.
And the IAEA has repeatedly gotten access, visiting Parchin twice in 2005. Iran is loathe to allow too much IAEA access to conventional military sites, noting that the inspectors, not finding any nuclear research, tend to leak out details of Iran’s conventional defensive systems to the US. Still, under the terms of the P5+1 deal, Iran will be letting the IAEA in again in October.
Nothing is expected to be found, as usual, so the usual suspects, which in this case means the DC-based Institute for Science and International Security (a group which openly still refers to itself as ISIS), are claiming Iran is conducting a “clean-up” at the site, citing satellite images showing a possible bulldozer at the site, and a couple of new containers.
Iran mocked the “preposterous” allegations, saying the claims are a repetition of unfounded claims that are disproven time and again about Parchin. Others noted that Parchin is still actually in use by the Iranian military for the same conventional purposes as ever, and that it is unsurprising that there should be activity there. This is doubly so with US and Israeli officials still talking up the idea of attacking Iran.
More control mechanisms can increase the sense of safety but they can just as well achieve the opposite. We should be aware of that in the light of past US-USSR arms control efforts. Even when there is no ill intent excessive control mechanisms combined with a degree of suspicion easily lead to escalating mistrust and paranoia. The existing IAEA procedures are already problematic in that case. The US-Iran agreement makes it worse , especially when there are parties who have a vested interest in escalating conflict.
yawn…does anyone except the spoon-fed media still listen to these yahoos? Did anyone ever listen to them?
When will the inspections start in the USA and the other "legal" nuke States? what about Israel, Pakistan, India?? What about the "upgrade" of nukes the USA is funding instead to reducing the stock as in NPT agreements? What of the UK "upgrades" arranged by Tony B Liar (sic)??
The nonsense of the Iran threat is showing the complete irrelevance of the USA as a real nation. Look at its "Reps"-no knowledge or integrity at all.
The Vassal States of America! Paying tribute to Israel and do its bidding since 1948!
They accused Iraq before invading the country, now they are back and up in arms creating yet another deceptive ideas for Iran. This is preposterous, a social psychological warfare orchestrated by European and American far right democrats, the kings and queens and those that are and have every aspects in fascism, neo fascism ideas but peace in Middle East.