World powers urge Iran to grant access to Parchin site

Six world powers Thursday urged Iran to let international inspectors into the Parchin military site and voiced concern that Tehran has refused to cooperate with an International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) probe into its alleged nuclear weapons work. The joint statement by the United States, Britain, France, Germany, Russia and China at the IAEA in Vienna came shortly after the six countries agreed to restart nuclear talks with Iran in the near future, dpa reported. "We also reaffirm our continuing support for a diplomatic solution to the Iranian nuclear issue and readiness to restart dialogue with Iran," Jingye Cheng, China's ambassador to the IAEA, said on behalf of the group. The six powers were concerned that two recent visits by senior IAEA officials to Iran had ended without an agreement on access to scientists, documents and sites, including Parchin, where nuclear warhead simulations allegedly took place. "In that context, we urge Iran to fulfill its undertaking to grant access to Parchin," they said. Vienna-based diplomats have said the IAEA is urgently seeking a visit to the location because recent satellite images show possible efforts to remove traces of nuclear-related research. Tehran said this week a visit is only possible once there is an overall agreement on conditions for the IAEA's probe of alleged research and development of nuclear weapons parts. Iran says it has no intention to build nuclear arms and that foreign intelligence claiming the contrary is forged.