IAEA chief visits Iran's controversial Parchin site

The head of the UN atomic watchdog was granted access on Sept.20 to a controversial Iranian military site where it is alleged covert research to build a nuclear bomb took place.

Yukiya Amano, chief of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), visited Parchin, a base east of Tehran, as efforts are stepped up to resolve by year end "ambiguities" with Iran about past "possible military dimensions" of its nuclear programme.
 
Iran has said the accusations from Western intelligence agencies -- including that the Islamic republic carried out explosives tests at Parchin -- are groundless and based on malicious information provided by its enemies.
 
"Amano paid a formal visit to Parchin, and visited some workshops about which there has been some false information," said Behrouz Kamalvand, a spokesman for Iran's Atomic Energy Organisation.
 
The Vienna-based IAEA confirmed the site visit, which is significant given that previous requests for access had been refused.
 
It comes as Iran and six world powers aim to implement a deal sealed in July aimed at ending a 13-year standoff over Tehran's nuclear activities.
 
A December 15 deadline looms for completion of the IAEA's long-running inquiry into allegations that at least until 2003, Iran conducted research into how to develop an atomic bomb.
 
The IAEA said recently that satellite imagery had shown the presence of vehicles, equipment and probable construction materials at the Parchin site, which US media reported as being suspicious and possible evidence of efforts to disguise past illicit activity.
 
Iran, however, dismissed the reports and said the work related to reconstruction of a road that had been damaged by flooding.