Iran says UN nuke watchdog requests must have legal basis
TEHRAN, Iran (AP) — Iran says requests from the United Nations' nuclear watchdog for information and access to Iran’s nuclear sites must have a legal basis, the semi-official ISNA news agency reported Wednesday.
Behrouz Kamalvandi, spokesman for Iran's nuclear agency, was quoted by ISNA as saying: “Not every question and every access is up to the agency.” He did not elaborate.
Kamalvandi's comments came a day after a confidential report was distributed to member countries by the International Atomic Energy Agency. The report was seen by The Associated Press.
The IAEA report said Iran has nearly tripled its stockpile of enriched uranium since November in violation of its deal with world powers. The report also raised new questions about possible nuclear-related activities and undeclared nuclear material at three locations.
The IAEA said it had sent questions to Iran in three separate letters, but Tehran maintained it wasn't obliged to respond.
Kamalvandi said he believes questions to Iran from the IAEA were based on distorted information by “the Zionist regime," a reference to Iran's arch-enemy Israel. He provided no evidence for the claim. Iran does not recognize Israel and has called for its destruction.
“Certainly, if any country in the world agrees to answer such questions, there will be thousands and millions of questions and also there will be thousands of requests to have access," Kamalvandi said.
