BICOM

Iran appears to have collected its own samples at the controversial Parchin site and handed them over to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), in a move which is likely to increase concerns over the voracity of the verification process surrounding July’s nuclear deal.

The long-term agreement between Iran and the P5+1 powers (US, UK, France, Russia, China and Germany) will likely see international sanctions lifted in return for a slowdown in Iranian nuclear development over the next decade. Critics of the deal have expressed deep concern that the accord does not include sufficient mechanisms to ensure Iranian compliance, especially a complex 24-day process from request to inspection of a site.

These concerns were compounded by an AP report last month, which said that the IAEA has agreed that international inspectors will not be permitted access to the Parchin site and instead will rely on soil samples, photographic and video evidence supplied by Iranian officials. Iran has denied numerous requests to inspect Parchin for almost a decade where it is suspected Iran has previously carried out tests related to nuclear weapon detonation.

IAEA head Yukiya Amano made a symbolic visit to Parchin this week and claimed that “significant progress” had been made in its ongoing assessment of Iranian nuclear activity. According to Reuters, he also revealed that environmental samples had been taken from Parchin prior to his visit and admitted that “the Iranian side played a part in the sample-taking process by swiping samples.” Although the IAEA says it cannot release details of its private inspection arrangements with Iran, Amano assured that “The process was carried out under our responsibility and monitoring.”

However, Behruz Kamalvandi, spokesman for the Atomic Energy Organisation of Iran candidly told the IRNA news agency that “Iranian experts took samples from specific locations in Parchin facilities this week without IAEA inspectors being present.” Critics believe that such an arrangement amounts to Iranian self-inspection, rather than a robust international monitoring mechanism.