A fruitless visit to Iran by UN nuclear inspectors raised tensions yesterday, with Russia warning of “catastrophic” consequences if it leads to a military attack on its Middle East ally.
It’s another demonstration of Iran’s refusal to abide by its international obligations.
The United States expressed disappointment that no progress had been made, and France said Iran’s refusal to let the inspectors in to a key military site was a “missed opportunity” that could undermine chances of reviving wider talks between Teheran and world powers.
But as worries over Iran pushed world oil prices to nine-month highs, Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, was defiant.
He made no mention at all of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) inspectors, instead reiterating the assertion that “the Iranian nation has never been seeking an atomic weapon and never will be.”
Possessing a nuclear bomb “constitutes a major sin,” he told a group of nuclear scientists, but nuclear energy “is in Iran’s national interest.”
“Pressure, sanctions, threats and assassinations will not bear any fruit and Iran will continue its path of (nuclear) scientific development.”
The IAEA said it had gone into the two-day visit to Teheran, and another inconclusive one last month, in a “constructive spirit,” but that no agreement had been reached on efforts to elucidate Iran’s nuclear activities.
Despite requests, “we could not get access” to a military site in Parchin where suspected nuclear warhead design experiments were conducted, team leader and chief inspector Herman Nackaerts said on returning to Vienna.
IAEA chief Yukiya Amano said the refusal to allow the Parchin inspection was “disappointing.” The IAEA said that “at this point in time” there was no agreement with Iran on holding further talks.
A Western diplomat in Vienna said Iran’s posture on Parchin showed why the world community “lacks confidence in the nature of its nuclear programme.”
“This latest snub, along with its decision to begin enrichment at Qom, underscore Iran’s defiance of the international community and multiple Security Council resolutions,” said the diplomat.
France said Iran’s “refusal to cooperate” was “another missed opportunity” that added to a standoff already aggravated by the Islamic republic’s recent boasts of nuclear progress. “We cannot but consider all of this contrary to the intentions” declared by Iran to resume negotiations with the P5+1, said a spokesman.
White House spokesman Jay Carney said “We regret the failure of Iran to reach an agreement with the IAEA. It’s another demonstration of Iran’s refusal to abide by its international obligations.”
The IAEA trip was seen as having an impact on the mooted resumption of talks between Iran and the P5+1 powers – Britain, China, France, Russia and the United States, plus Germany – which broke down 13 months ago.
Oliver Thraenert, an analyst with the German Institute for International and Security Affairs, said the IAEA visit “shows clearly that Iran is not in the mood for substantial compromise,” adding that the chances of negotiations now resuming were “not very high.”
Talk of possible military action against Iran by Israel, with or without US help, had given urgency to diplomatic attempts to lower tensions.
Russia, which along with China has been giving Iran diplomatic cover, warned against that prospect.“The scenario of military action against Iran would be catastrophic for the region and possibly the whole system of international relations,” said Deputy Foreign Minister Gennady Gatilov.
He urged nations to wait for the IAEA’s official report before deciding to condemn Iran for failing to cooperate.
The United States and Europe have been ramping up economic sanctions on Iran since November, when the IAEA published a report crystallising – though not entirely validating – Western suspicions it was pursuing nuclear weapons research in Parchin and elsewhere.
Iran has repeatedly said the sanctions will not deter it from its nuclear ambitions.