WASHINGTON
— A secret side deal to the Iran nuclear agreement allows Tehran to send its
own inspectors to investigate a site where it has been accused of developing
nuclear weapons, it was reported Wednesday.
The UN’s International
Atomic Energy Agency and Iran hammered out the plan for self-inspections of the
Parchin military complex, long suspected of being a test site for nuclear arms,
according to The Associated Press.
The United States and five
world powers were not privy to the negotiations, but were briefed on the deal
as part of the larger package signed in July limiting Iran’s nuclear program.
Skeptical members of the
GOP-led Congress have been demanding texts of any side agreements, but the
Obama administration has insisted the arrangements are technical and that it
didn’t have copies.
“It is absolutely
unacceptable, yet telling, that we are finding out the details of these
agreements through The Associated Press,” said an outraged House Majority
leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.).
Intelligence agencies have
long suspected Parchin was used to experiment with high-explosive detonators
for nuclear arms.
Iran has refused
international inspectors access to the site for years and under the new deal
that will not change.
Instead, the IAEA will
diverge from normal protocol and allow Tehran to use its own experts and
equipment to search for evidence of nuclear-weapons experimentation at the
site.
Olli Heinonen, who was in
charge of the Iran probe as deputy IAEA director general from 2005 to 2010,
said he could think of no similar concession to any other nation.
Iran is to provide photos
and videos to the IAEA while “taking into account military concerns.”
That wording suggests Iran
will continue to keep off-limits areas of the complex Tehran has deemed of military
significance.
“This is a dangerous
farce,” fumed Rep. Ed Royce (R-Calif.), chairman of the House Foreign Affairs
Committee.
Team Obama defended the
side deal and said it had confidence in the inspection program.
Congress is set to vote on
the pact in September.
***
The article concludes with Congress is set to vote on the pact in September. The future of the world rests on the 20
undecided Democratic senators and the 60 Democrats in the House.
So what should be done?
Perhaps they should be sent a letter asking them if they seriously believe that Iranian “self-inspection” is a reliable way to prevent a nuclear war?
Who are these people? Are they just ignorant? Stupid? Cowards? Which is it?