Iran rejects Amano’s claims about Parchin site

Iranian Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi has rejected claims by International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) chief Yukiya Amano that Tehran has conducted nuclear activities in the country’s Parchin military site.

Amano reportedly alleged on Sunday that possible efforts by Iran to ‘clean up traces of nuclear activity’ at the Parchin military site were “ongoing.”

Salehi rejected the allegation of nuclear activities having been carried out at the military site and added that it is technically impossible to clean up places where nuclear work has been done.

“Clean-up of such places is not possible. These words have no technical basis — if he (Amano) has actually made such remarks,” the Iranian foreign minister added.

The United States, Israel and some of their European allies have repeatedly accused Iran of pursuing military objectives in its nuclear energy program.

Iran rejects the allegations, arguing that as a committed signatory to the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and a member of the IAEA, it has the right to use nuclear technology for peaceful purposes.

Tehran has repeatedly called on the IAEA not to be swayed by the US and its allies, warning that the body would undermine its credibility by publishing prejudiced reports about Iran’s nuclear work.