A new report by the International Atomic Energy Agency released Friday finds that Iran is continuing to block efforts to shed light on its nuclear program.
The IAEA’s quarterly report conveys that Iran continues to obfuscate the agency’s attempts to learn about the possible military dimensions of its nuclear program, as well as other technical details that won’t be discussed before the P5 + 1 nations’ Nov. 24 deadline for a nuclear agreement.
“Iran has not provided any explanations that enable the Agency to clarify the outstanding practical measures, nor has it proposed any new practical measures in the next step of the Framework for cooperation,” the IAEA report reads.
The Institute for Science and International Security, a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization operating out of Washington, D.C., commented on the report, saying: “The most striking point in the just released International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) quarterly Iran safeguards report is Iran’s consistent refusal to address the inspectors’ concerns that it had a well structured nuclear weapons program prior to 2004, and that parts of that program may have continued afterwards and some may be on going today.”
The IAEA’s report comes only a day after it was revealed that President Obama sent a secret letter to Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in mid-October. Sources briefed on the letter told the Wall Street Journal that the contents of the letter concentrated on a shared interest to degrade and destroy the Islamic State group, and the upcoming deadline for a nuclear deal.
Senior White House officials declined to comment on the Wall Street Journal’s original story, but did not deny its existence when asked about it by foreign diplomats, the paper reported.
SEE ALSO: Obama sent secret letter to Iran’s Ayatollah Khamenei on Islamic State
• Douglas Ernst can be reached at dernst@washingtontimes.com.
Please read our comment policy before commenting.