Iran's Ayatollah Rejects Long-term Nuclear Research Freeze
2015-06-24 08:03:21.235 GMT
By ALI AKBAR DAREINI
Tehran, Iran (AP) -- Iran's top leader has hardened his
stance in nuclear negotiations with world powers as a deadline
for a final deal rapidly approach, saying he rejects a long-term
freeze on nuclear research and wants to ban international
inspectors from accessing military sites.
The comments by Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who repeatedly has
backed the Islamic Republic's negotiators amid criticism from
hard-liners, may give his diplomats little room for concessions
ahead of the June 30 deadline. They also directly challenge the
U.S., especially his demand that Iran only will sign a final
deal if economic sanctions are first lifted.
Iran's parliament already has passed a bill that, if
ratified, will ban access to military sites, documents and its
scientists as part of any future deal. The bill must be ratified
by the Guardian Council, a constitutional watchdog, to become a
law.
Speaking Tuesday night in comments broadcast on Iranian
state television, Khamenei called demands Iran halt the research
and development portion of its nuclear program "excessive
coercion."
"We don't accept 10-year restriction. We have told the
negotiating team how many specific years of restrictions are
acceptable," Khamenei said. "Research and development must
continue during the years of restrictions."
Khamenei accused the U.S. of offering a "complicated
formula" for lifting sanctions. He added waiting for the U.N.'s
International Atomic Energy Agency to verify its cooperation
would take too long.
"Lifting sanctions can't depend on implementation of Iran's
obligations," he said.
Khamenei also said he rejects any inspection of military
sites or allowing its scientists to be interviewed. Iran's
nuclear scientists have been the targets of attacks before both
inside the Islamic Republic and elsewhere.
The U.S.' "goal is to uproot and destroy the country's
nuclear industry," he said. "They want to keep up the pressure
and are not after a complete lifting of sanctions."
In a statement Sunday, the U.S. State Department said
inspections remain a key part of any final deal.
Tehran is negotiating with the U.S., Russia, China,
Britain, France and Germany over its contested nuclear program.
The talks are focused on reaching a final accord that curbs
Iran's nuclear program in return for the lifting of economic
sanctions.
Iran says its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes,
such as power generation and medical research. The West fears
Iran could use it to finally build an atomic bomb.
Negotiations likely will begin in earnest in the coming
days in Europe. On Wednesday, Iran's official IRNA news agency
reported that deputy foreign ministers Abbas Araghchi and Majid
Takht-e-Ravanchi had resumed talks with Helga Schmidt, a deputy
of European Union foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini. It
did not elaborate.
-0- Jun/24/2015 08:03 GMT
2015-06-24 08:03:21.235 GMT
By ALI AKBAR DAREINI
Tehran, Iran (AP) -- Iran's top leader has hardened his
stance in nuclear negotiations with world powers as a deadline
for a final deal rapidly approach, saying he rejects a long-term
freeze on nuclear research and wants to ban international
inspectors from accessing military sites.
The comments by Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who repeatedly has
backed the Islamic Republic's negotiators amid criticism from
hard-liners, may give his diplomats little room for concessions
ahead of the June 30 deadline. They also directly challenge the
U.S., especially his demand that Iran only will sign a final
deal if economic sanctions are first lifted.
Iran's parliament already has passed a bill that, if
ratified, will ban access to military sites, documents and its
scientists as part of any future deal. The bill must be ratified
by the Guardian Council, a constitutional watchdog, to become a
law.
Speaking Tuesday night in comments broadcast on Iranian
state television, Khamenei called demands Iran halt the research
and development portion of its nuclear program "excessive
coercion."
"We don't accept 10-year restriction. We have told the
negotiating team how many specific years of restrictions are
acceptable," Khamenei said. "Research and development must
continue during the years of restrictions."
Khamenei accused the U.S. of offering a "complicated
formula" for lifting sanctions. He added waiting for the U.N.'s
International Atomic Energy Agency to verify its cooperation
would take too long.
"Lifting sanctions can't depend on implementation of Iran's
obligations," he said.
Khamenei also said he rejects any inspection of military
sites or allowing its scientists to be interviewed. Iran's
nuclear scientists have been the targets of attacks before both
inside the Islamic Republic and elsewhere.
The U.S.' "goal is to uproot and destroy the country's
nuclear industry," he said. "They want to keep up the pressure
and are not after a complete lifting of sanctions."
In a statement Sunday, the U.S. State Department said
inspections remain a key part of any final deal.
Tehran is negotiating with the U.S., Russia, China,
Britain, France and Germany over its contested nuclear program.
The talks are focused on reaching a final accord that curbs
Iran's nuclear program in return for the lifting of economic
sanctions.
Iran says its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes,
such as power generation and medical research. The West fears
Iran could use it to finally build an atomic bomb.
Negotiations likely will begin in earnest in the coming
days in Europe. On Wednesday, Iran's official IRNA news agency
reported that deputy foreign ministers Abbas Araghchi and Majid
Takht-e-Ravanchi had resumed talks with Helga Schmidt, a deputy
of European Union foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini. It
did not elaborate.
-0- Jun/24/2015 08:03 GMT